4/5  BIS central bankers' speeches  And of course safeguarding because we will remain steadfast in our focus on maintaining price and financial stability while ensuring that the financial system operates in the best interests of consumers and the wider economy. Conclusion The near-term outlook for the Irish economy is positive.
Global trade, normally a catalyst for the global economy, remains weak. Merchandise trade growth over the past five years has been the slowest since the early 1980s, and protectionist measures in G20 countries and elsewhere are on the rise. Economies are grappling with the spillovers from unconventional monetary policies and heightened political uncertainty has also been making households and businesses more cautious.