There was no reason to believe the performance of the Irish economy in 25 years would not match the best in the world, said financial consultant Peter Quinn.
Mr Quinn, a former GAA president, said the Irish economy was currently establishing a base. Its future was relatively secure, and through that it could continue to generate wealth and prosperity.
"In the absence of major adverse and unforeseeable events, I see no reason to believe that the performance of the Irish economy 25 years from now will not match the best in the world. Hopefully, it will be the best in the world," he said.
The South's economy could clearly prosper without the North. He was not so sure that in the medium to long term the North's economy could progress quite as well without support from the South, particularly if the financial inflow from Britain was to start reducing.
Labour TD Joan Burton said the State was now unusually dependent on foreign industry and services, and the attractions of a low rate of corporation tax. Unfortunately the competition for this mobile foreign industry had intensified due to EU enlargement and rapid economic development in Asia.
"Ireland is currently growing much faster than the European average, and we have every opportunity to achieve faster growth than the European average rate into the medium term," she said. However, that did not answer the question as to how that wealth was shared or used.
Journalist George Lee said the State should be aiming to keep its place in the race to the top of global competitiveness.