IDA Ireland chairman Mr John Dunne (interview, page 5) points out that there is a whole generation who don't know the dog days when getting a job was almost as hard as trying to get on the current property ladder.

It was with some amusement that The Margin overheard some young people discussing the merits of a particular estate agent, who was known to one of them. Stressing the youthful agent's merit, he assured his chums that his mate was "an auctioneer of four years' standing".

And they say a week is a long time in politics!