IRELAND’S ECONOMY WILL shrink by 2.3 per cent over the course of 2011, plunging the country into a ‘double dip’ recession, according to new estimates from one of the world’s largest professional services firms.
Ernst & Young’s prediction, reported by RTÉ, suggests that while Irish exports will continue to growth throughout the year, the continued weakness of the domestic economy will drag overall growth into negative territory.
While E&Y acknowledged that its forecast was relatively pessimistic and at the lower end of market expectations, it was also a “realistic” indication of the economic problems facing the country.
The forecast is the most negative one yet about Ireland’s economic prospects for 2011.
On a positive note, E&Y did predict that Ireland would secure a 1 per cent reduction on the interest rate it pays for its bailout loans.
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