A 17-page paper on why there are not more women entrepreneurs in the world came the Margin's way during the week and makes for interesting reading. Penned by Mr Frank Fullard, chief executive officer of Mayo County Enterprise Board, it reviews the international literature on the issue which, it seems, concludes that, in relation to the ability to set up and run a business, there is little difference between men and women that is not based on social conditioning.

Mr Fullard, who sent his paper to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, includes details of a survey carried out in 1993 during which 300 male and 300 female business proprietors were surveyed. The research found that men were more likely to be refused bank loans, and more likely to use overdrafts to finance their business; perhaps there is a message there for would-be entrepreneurs, male and female.