a) The Balance of Payments is made up of the Current Account and the Capital Account.

Explain each of the underlined terms. Include details of the main components of each account in

your explanations.

(b) Suppose the euro () increases in value relative to the American dollar ($) and sterling ().

Outline the likely effects this increase would have on any THREE components of the Balance of

Payments, which you listed in answering (a) above.

(c) The enlargement of the European Union (EU) continues with the addition of Bulgaria and

Romania in January 2007. There are now 27 member states.

Discuss FOUR economic consequences for the Irish economy, of the EU enlargement process.

(20 marks)

[75 marks]

8. (a) Outline, using appropriate figures, how the Irish economy performed in the past twelve months in

each of the following areas:

(i) employment;

(ii) interest rates;

(iii) price inflation;

(iv) government taxation.

(b) (i) State and explain FOUR economic aims of the Irish government.

(ii) Discuss TWO examples where economic policies introduced to achieve one

economic aim, may make it more difficult to achieve one of the other aims.

(25 marks)

(c) 'The National Debt / GDP ratio has fallen from over 90% during the first half of

the 1990's to an estimated 25.1 % at the end of 2006'. (National Treasury Management

Agency)

(i) Briefly explain each of the underlined terms.

(ii) Outline the economic benefits of this changed situation for the Irish economy.