ASSISTANT Garda commissioner for the Dublin metropolitan area, Tom King, outlined his vision to the annual conference of the Small Firms' Association in Dublin Castle during the week. The Garda, working with communities and in conjunction with other state agencies, will be able to make significant inroads on the drugs and crime problem in the capital, he assured the assembled delegates. This will leave business managers free to concentrate more time on running their businesses and making greater profits.

One delegate found this all very worrying. Speaking from the floor she sought an assurance from Mr King that Dublin's problems would not be solved by driving all the criminals out. And sending them to Cork, where she came from!

It can be hard to win sometimes.