Dublin Opinion

Dan O’Brien, economics editor of the Irish Times, on Saturday:

“LAST WEEKEND the world’s attention was on Washington DC as America’s politicians peered into the abyss of sovereign default. On Sunday they stepped back. This weekend attention is on Rome and Madrid. Politicians in those two capitals are sliding towards the same abyss.”

This is Dan O’Brien in 2010:

The recession is over. But unemployment and future risks remain. Economic growth has returned.” (Irish Times, 1 July 2010)

This is Dan in 2009:

The literature on fiscal consolidation processes internationally shows clearly that success comes from cutting spending… (Irish Times, 20 March 2009)

This is Dan in 2008:

“the global gloom is overdone. Investor sentiment internationally has over-reacted to America’s woes. Moreover, the US policy response to the slowdown has been unprecedented, both in its speed and its magnitude. Outside the US, the rest of the global economy is enjoying one of its strongest periods of economic expansion ever. As most of this is driven by strong fundamentals, we at the Economist Intelligence Unit are forecasting only a modest slowdown globally in 2008 and continued strong expansion over the medium term. This underlying strength of the world economy augurs well for Ireland as one of the most globalised economies on the planet.” .”

You can read more great predictions by Dan O’Brien - how (in 2006) the next ten years augur well for Ireland - how Bertie Ahern should be made secretary-general of the UN - and how financial services are Ireland’s future - here:

The fact that he has made ridiculous economic predictions, that he has shown virtually no aptitude for analysis or insight pertaining to actual economic activity in Ireland, makes him of course the perfect choice for economics editor of the Irish Times - a position previously held by Marc Coleman, author, in 2007, of The Best Is Yet To Come.