The Government’s bailout of several of Ireland’s major financial institutions has driven local firms to rethink their banking relationships. Helen Mooney reports

It is not all doom and gloom in the Emerald Isle. Yes, the economy and consumer spending are still weak and yes, the domestic mortgage and property market is still going through a tough period of introspection, self analysis and frugality but in other areas – in high-end work and in international investment – things have definitely started to pick up.