The Republic is one of only two parts of the euro zone where the economy is performing above a "satisfactory" level, a leading international survey has found.
The latest quarterly poll from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Germany's Ifo Economic Research shows a fifth successive deterioration in expectations for the global economy.
The biggest deterioration in the economic climate measure came in western Europe, where the indicator slipped below its long-term average.
In north America, there was a drop in expectations for the next six months but an improvement in participants' assessment of the current economic situation.
The ICC/Ifo survey draws on the responses of 1,118 corporate and academic economists across 91 countries. Global average responses pointed towards a slowing in growth over the next six months. For the euro zone, the economists forecast weak growth for 2005. They identified unemployment as the currency area's biggest problem.
Finland and the Republic were highlighted as the only euro-zone states where "the current economic situation [ was] judged to be above the satisfactory level".
On currencies, the economists said the dollar was undervalued against the euro and sterling but should remain stable or decline slightly over the next six months.
