In Conversation with Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe, T.D.: Navigating Ireland’s Post-Covid Economic Recovery

On 22 April, the Whitaker Institute was delighted to welcome Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe for a fireside chat with Cian Twomey, Lecturer in Economics at the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics. Professor Geraint Howells, Dean of the College of Business, Public Policy and Law opened the session, followed by the President of NUI Galway Ciarán Ó hOgartaigh who introduced the Minister.

On April 14th, the Department of Finance published the Stability Programme Update (SPU) for 2021, setting out the medium-term trajectory for the Irish economy. Commenting on the SPU, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe noted that ‘the impact of the pandemic on the domestic economy and the public finances has been severe. However, the acceleration of the vaccination programme means that the beginning of the end is, hopefully, now in sight. The strength of our economic model and more importantly, our people, clearly demonstrate that we should face this current period with optimism. We can and we will rebuild our economy, get our people back to work and safely emerge from the pandemic.”

The webinar with Minister Donohoe discussed these points in the context of wider European and global challenges.

A recording of the event is available to watch below.