Crisis exit strategy for Ireland: the Results and the Challenges?

Ireland, the second euro zone country to benefit from the EU and IMF's financial assistance after Greece, exited the aid programme on 15 December 2013, three years after its launch. The rigorous control of government spending, innovative bank debt management solutions, targeted investments and the constant support of exports have helped revive growth and enabled the country to return to the financial markets where it is now borrowing at historically low rates. However the page cannot be completely turned on the crisis whilst unemployment is still high, financing the economy is still affected by the fallout of the property crisis and fiscal policy is still being criticised. The lassitude of public opinion in regard to 8 years of austerity will also probably slow work towards budgetary consolidation in the years to come.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Focus: Ireland's Recovery from Crisis http://www.europeansources.info/record/focus-irelands-recovery-from-crisis/

ESO: Background information: Ireland: Celtic Tiger in Austerity—Explaining Irish Path Dependency http://www.europeansources.info/record/ireland-celtic-tiger-in-austerity-explaining-irish-path-dependency/

ESO: Background information: Ireland to officially exit bailout programme http://www.europeansources.info/record/ireland-to-officially-exit-bailout-programme/

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