ECONOMY: The Irish economy will continue to boom, and will likely grow by more than 7 per cent. But inflation will raise its head in 1998 more than it has in the past two or three years. Elsewhere, the US economy will grow strongly, Britain will show signs of weakness, the rest of Europe will grow slowly and the crisis in Asia will continue.
JOBS: IDA Ireland has already set its targets for 1998, and they are every bit as bullish as the record years of 1995, 1996 and 1997. This should see the agency generate around 14,000 new jobs by this time next year. Forbairt will have a bumper year also, as more Irish investors back new businesses.
STOCK MARKETS: New York will continue to rise, probably by at least 10 per cent. London is also likely to rise, by the same amount. Because of the strength of the economy, the Irish stock market will rise by around 20 per cent.
BANKING: The Stateowned banks, ACC and ICC, will finally be privatised. The two big banks will continue to expand, with Bank of Ireland acquiring more business in Britain while Allied Irish Banks concentrates on the US.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS:The third mobile phone licence will be awarded, providing competition for Eircell and Digifone. Telecom Eireann will reduce its longdistance and international charges, but will continue to charge very high rates for local calls, hindering Internet use. BT will move into the Republic, bigtime.
TECHNOLOGY: Companies will begin to get really worried about the Year 2000 "millennium bomb", and software engineers who can rewrite code will command more money than ever. The personal computer you bought in early 1997 will be seen as an ancient relic by the middle of 1998, as Intel and Microsoft bring out faster computers and software that makes use of it.
RETAIL: More suburban shopping centres will open, especially in the Dublin area, and the scramble by British high street retailers to get into the booming Irish market will continue apace. In particular, the new Quarryvale shopping centre to the west of the city will take some of the pressure off the city centre.
ENERGY: The next phase of oil and gas exploration will start in earnest off the west coast of Ireland, and in Dublin Bay. While these are unlikely to turn Ireland into the next Norway, they could see significant finds with commercial potential.
OUTSIDE BETS: The talks in Belfast conclude, and an all-Ireland economic powerhouse is born; investors now seek start up companies instead of property; the Government ends traffic jams by creating a subsidised, clean, efficient transport system for Dublin; An Post begins delivering letters before 8.30 am, and introduces a 5 p.m. delivery too; Telecom Eireann introduces a £300 a year all you can use rate for local calls; Tony Blair realises it is useless to fight the tide and signs up for EMU.