It's sad really to see that most thrusting of lobby groups, the Irish Small and Medium Enterprise Association (ISME), shunning the limelight. It's not that long ago that the dynamic defender of SMEs was lecturing Government and anyone else who cared to listen on the importance of openness, transparency and a level playing-field to a healthy economy.

When the internal wrangling that has split the organisation is over, it might be a little difficult to buff up the halo convincingly and resume the posture of keeper of the gate of good practice.