Economic Dialogue with Ireland
IPOL DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR INTERNAL POLICIES EGOV ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE SUPPORT UNIT IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS Economic Dialogue with Ireland ECON on 08 November 2016 This note presents selected information on the current status of the EU economic governance procedures and related relevant information in view of an Economic Dialogue with Michael Noonan, Ireland’s Minister for Finance, in the competent committee of the European Parliament. The invitation for a dialogue is in accordance with the EU economic governance framework, in particular Article 2a of EU Regulation 1467 as amended by Regulation 1177/2011 and Article 7(10) of EU Regulation 472/2013. Summary In the context of the post-programme surveillance and monitoring, both the European Commission (COM) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) notes that Ireland’s economic adjustment has been remarkable and outline positive developments, such as the strong economic rebound and improving public finances, while the challenge for the future is to achieve continued balanced growth in an environment of increased uncertainty, including that created by the result of the United Kingdom (UK) referendum on EU membership. Ireland successfully corrected its excessive deficit in 2015 and exited the EDP on 17 June 2016. It submitted its 2017 draft budgetary plan in October 2016; the latter will be assessed by the COM in November on the basis of the upcoming autumn forecast. The GDP figures have been revised significantly upwards in July 2016 (together with other relevant economic indicators): this reduces indicators expressed as a share of GDP and will be reflected in the upcoming COM autumn forecast. Finally, as regards the banking sector, progress can be noticed in the form of a declining non- performing loan (NPLs) ratio, but the current rate is still nearly three times that of the EU average and the Irish banking sector sees a reduction in the level of loan loss provisions.
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