The European Central Bank is expected to cut interest rates again this week in a bid to boost the floundering eurozone economy, even as debate heats up about when to hit pause. - Rate debate - Some policymakers are starting to ask how the central bank should continue on the path downward.

For four years, the ECB has been trying to slow the economy down, raising its key deposit rate to a record 4 percent to choke off inflation, before gradually lifting its foot off the brake since June. Next week’s expected rate cut will be the sixth in the current sequence, and will bring the deposit rate down to 2.5 percent.

Irish inflation moderated to 1.3 per cent in February, down from 1.7 per cent the previous month, according to the latest flash estimate for the harmonised index of consumer prices (HICP).