Foreword by Professor Dermot McAleese on the occasion of his presidential address

Abstract

This is a good year to be celebrating the 150th anniversary of our Society! The Irish economy continues to boom and prospects remain bright. At first many were sceptical about the Celtic Tiger (as Morgan Stanley christened it). Was it all skin and no substance? But, as record after record has been broken, the sceptics have been silenced. The statistics show GNP growth averaging over 8 per cent since 1994. Between 1994 and 1999, real GNP is projected to increase by two-thirds. Growth in numbers employed has reached unprecedented rates, the national finances are regaining health, the balance of payments remains positive, and inflation remains relatively dormant. In a landmark judgement, the Department of Finance recently declared itself ?comfortable? with the economy?s performance and the public finances. And to cap all this good news on the economic front, we have the suspension of violence in Northern Ireland.