December 07, 2006	Thursday	Ziqa'ad 15, 1427

DUBLIN, Dec 6: Ireland's economy will grow by 5.25pc next year, the country's finance minister Brian Cowen forecast on Wednesday when he unveiled a tax-cutting, pension-boosting budget ahead of a general election in 2007. Cowen said the economy would grow by 5.4 per cent in GDP terms in 2006 compared to an estimate of 4.8 per cent he made last year. He predicted GNP would be 5.7pc this year in comparison to a rate of 4.6pc he had forecast in 2005.—AFP