The Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy has predicted the current boom in the Irish economy will continue, despite the worst inflation figures in a decade. He told RTÉ News the condition for continued economic buoyancy is that pay demands be kept under control. Mr McCreevy denied that his relationship with Bertie Ahern has been undermined by controversy over the Budget.
A survey in today's Sunday Independent indicates that there has been a big increase in support for the Government. The IMS poll suggests that 59% of people are now satisfied with the Coalition's performance, that is up 13% since last October. Support for Fianna Fáil rose by 8 points to 53% but support for the Progressive Democrats dropped by 1 point to 2%. Fine Gael are down 3 points to 21% and Labour are down 2 to 13%. The poll also shows that 64% of people were opposed to the IRA's decision to withdraw from the de Chastelain Commission, 61% believed the British Government should not have suspended the institutions.
