There was much hinting at the advantages of nudity at the breakfast meeting which preceded last week's Irish Exporters Association a.g.m. when the fully-attired ensemble heard from the IEA chairman, Mr Pat Murphy, that exporting was the most exciting thing you could do with your clothes on.

Not to be outdone, the guest speaker, Mr Dan Flinter, chief executive of Enterprise Ireland, emphasised the necessity for the new super-agency to have a holistic approach and a mission, remarking that not to have one would be "almost like trying to export without your clothes".

Strangely, the advantages of exporting without your clothes were not alluded to unless the exporters returned to the theme during their a.g.m. which, it was noted, took place behind closed doors.