Austerity can be avoided with post-COVID caution, Irish watchdog says

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland's large fiscal-stimulus response to the coronavirus pandemic will lead to tighter budgets in future but not necessarily a return to the austerity of a decade ago, the country's fiscal watchdog said on Wednesday.Ireland has committed more than 13 billion euros (11.6 billion pounds) so far to help businesses, workers and the health service cope, turning a budget surplus in 2019 into an estimated deficit of 7.4% to 10% of gross domestic product this year.The Irish Fiscal..