THEY are preening themselves down in Coopers & Lybrand following a survey in the International Tax Review which named the firm as Ireland's number one tax adviser. Not only that, but Mary Walsh of the same firm was voted top individual adviser.

The survey was completed from responses to questionnaires and to managers at leading companies and banks. Ireland was included for the first time this year, with the "big six accountancy firms dominating the tax premiership. Arthur Andersen and Price Waterhouse would both qualify for Europe, coming second and third respectively, followed by Ernst & Young and KPMG.