2.2 Economic context
2.2.1 Freight transport is a derived demand -
it exists to enable the economy to function,
rather than being an end in itself. Accordingly,
this baseline review commences by analysing
trends in the economy of both Northern Ireland
and Ireland. From 1990 onwards, the Irish
economy grew at a significantly higher rate
than that experienced across the rest of Europe.
From 1995 to 2003 real growth in the Irish Gross
National Product (GNP excludes profits and
dividends repatriated to non-residents -
an important flow in Ireland) was around
8 per cent per annum, remaining over
4 per cent a year since then.