New figures released yesterday have shown that Ireland has the fastest growing economy in the developed world.

Central Statistics Office figures issued yesterday, show buoyant economic growth in 1996, recording a 6.9 per cent rise in Ireland's gross national product (GNP), broadly in line with Department of Finance estimates. The 1995 GNP growth estimate was upgraded to 8.8 per cent and the economy has now expanded by more than 23 per cent over the past three years. Pages 2 and 4