The recession in Ireland has officially ended.

After a downturn hit the country at the end of last year and the first few months of this year, the widest measure of the economy has now revealed a slight upturn.

According to estimates from the CSO, gross domestic product, which includes the multinational sector, increased in the three months to June by 0.4% compared to the first three months of the year.

The figures will be a boost for the Government as it prepares Budget 2014, which is to be announced on October 15.

But despite one set of good figures, the domestic economy is suffering as it contracted by 0.4% in the same period.