Moody's Upgrades Ireland to Aa2 From Aa3
By Stephen Nakrosis
Moody's Ratings raised Ireland's long-term issuer and senior unsecured ratings to Aa2 from Aa3, with the outlook remaining positive.
The upgrade is supported by sustained improvements in economic and fiscal strength, which are expected to continue, Moody's said. In addition, Ireland is seeing foreign direct investment yielding greater economic and fiscal benefits than previously assessed, and strong underlying growth supported by public investment under the National Development Plan.
Moody's said the country has materially outperformed expectations for debt reduction, with a further decline in the debt burden expected. "Sustained positive surprises on foreign direct investment and government revenue could accelerate the accumulation of financial buffers by the government beyond our current expectations," Moody's added.
Ireland's general government debt burden relative to underlying real economic growth fell to 63% last year, from more than 100% in 2021. Moody's said it is forecasting a further decline to 54% in 2027.
Write to Stephen Nakrosis at stephen.nakrosis@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
August 21, 2026 17:40 ET (21:40 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.The articles, information, and content displayed on this webpage may include materials prepared and provided by third parties. Such third-party content is offered for informational purposes only and is not endorsed, reviewed, or verified by Morningstar.
Morningstar makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or reliability of any third-party content displayed on this site. The views and opinions expressed in third-party content are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Morningstar, its affiliates, or employees.
Morningstar is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or delays in this content, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Users are advised to exercise their own judgment and seek independent financial advice before making any decisions based on such content. The third-party providers of this content are not affiliated with Morningstar, and their inclusion on this site does not imply any form of partnership, agency, or endorsement.
Popular
The 10 Best Companies to Invest in Now
14 Elite Funds and ETFs, and 5 Popular Funds That Just Missed the Mark
3 Stocks to Sell and 3 Stocks to Buy for October
The Top Funds for a Simpler Retirement Portfolio
United States