Old economics textbooks used to describe Ireland as a land with little to no natural resources. Lacking oil, coal, precious metals, Ireland had to survive on a diet of low value agriculture, foreign direct investment, and the export of her surplus citizens.   Our economic miracle from 1973 to today is normally explained by trade liberalisation – opening up to the rest of the world, and particularly to Europe – economic freedom in setting up new companies and ventures, increased investment in training and education, and social partnership. The big driver of it all is, of course, foreign direct investment, and…