Taoiseach: I see brighter days ahead
The Taoiseach Enda Kenny is delivering a message of hope this Christmas Day.
He said the country has made steady progress in 2012.
The Taoiseach said good days lie ahead for Ireland.
Mr Kenny said: "While we have put up with a great deal of challenges and a great deal of difficulty, things are beginning to improve. I see brighter days ahead.
"As they say in Ireland, if it rains for three weeks, people always give out, when the sunshine comes they say 'it was worth the wait'.
"I hope to be able deliver on that with the Government in 2013 with our colleagues in Europe."
