Reuters sets the agenda in Ireland

Reuters has showed time and again the value of its local presence in covering the Irish economic and political saga over the past 12 months. From agenda-setting interviews, to ahead-of-the-game features, to exclusive and closely-watched polling data, our team on the ground in Dublin has consistently delivered a comprehensive service to clients. Last year, Reuters scooped all comers with the news Ireland would have to more than double the size of cuts needed to tackle its deficit thanks to an exclusive interview with opposition finance minister Michael Noonan. That set the scene for a string of authoritative analyses and stories that showcased our keen understanding of the issues facing Ireland and the personalities driving developments. Among other major stories, Reuters was the first of its competitors to say Prime Minister Brian Cowen would stand down as party leader, the first to say likely government partners, the Labour Party, would seek a time extension for Irelands fiscal commitments under the EU/IMF bailout, and reported exclusively in a televised interview with the country’s central bank governor that an ongoing capital review of the countrys banks would raise their prospective loan losses. Reuters has long had a strong presence in Ireland. For the past six years, we have also offered the only long-term consensus forecasts on the Irish economy via an exclusive monthly poll used by policymakers including the Finance Ministry. Our staff live and breathe the Irish story - we were were one of the first international media organisations to highlight the ghost estates created by the collapse of Ireland’s building boom. We also boast award-winning photographic talent: Cathal McNaughton last month won the “Daily Life” category of the Press Photographers Association of Ireland and was given an award of excellence at the Pictures of the Year International Awards.