Madam, – Could I echo the sentiments expressed by Mike Burke (October 12th)? I was beginning to think that all other optimists had emigrated – voluntarily, of course, following promotions.
Shakespeare's Hamletsuggests there is little good or bad in this world "but thinking makes it so". Just in case he has a point, could this publication, for the good of the nation as a whole and in the hope of preventing the extinction of my wee endangered tribe, please include a small good news story on the front page every day as a matter of urgency? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Mike Burke (October 12th) suggests including a Good News page in The Irish Times. Here's an excerpt from the Goodbody Stockbrokers site, October 12th, 2010, to help it get started: "While the domestic economy remains weak in Ireland, the external sector continues to show healthy signs. This was reflected in the 7.5 per cent growth in exports in the second quarter of the year and is also seen in the latest industrial production data released yesterday. In the three months to August, production grew by 10 per cent yoy [year over year], its fastest rate of growth in more than three years.
“Unsurprisingly, output from the multi-national sector (called the “modern” sector) is leading this charge, with output up by 14 per cent yoy in August. Within this, chemicals and pharmaceuticals production, Ireland’s largest commodity export, is up a stellar 20 per cent yoy [year over year]. Encouragingly though, Irish indigenous industry is now seeing output growth; in the three months to August, the so-called “traditional” sector saw an increase in output of 4 per cent yoy, its best performance since Q1 2007. This was led by the food and beverage sector, where output grew by 5 per cent yoy [year over year] . The vast majority of industrial production is destined for the export sector.” – Yours, etc,