All the fundamentals are extremely positive. The demographics are good, there is strong inward migration and the job outlook is very positive.

Social partnership seems to have come up short. This dispute does not send out very positive signals about the industrial relations climate in this country.

They behaved like any other kids when they were outside playing.

This year was the year when consumers started to feel their power. But in 2006 and 2007, consumer spending will really take off.

Those kids were dressed better than some of the kids who live in Cleveland. They behaved like any other kids when they were outside playing.

I think the prospects for a hard landing for the market are still pretty remote but my concern would be that the economy is becoming increasingly reliant on the housing market.

If Ireland wants to produce high-paid, high-productivity jobs in the future we need state of the art IT infrastructure.