I was over in Dublin at the weekend, stopping with a friend / old business colleague near Leopardstown. He told me to walk with my eyes open over the weekend and see how many much you see has come to Ireland via the Uk.

Many manufacturers, wherever they work, wish to sell their goods into Ireland. And historically, through laziness and market size, they have done so via their British operation. The companies I was involved with all did the same.

Like I said at the outset, Britain's recovery will be even more fragile with a weak Ireland on the doorstep.

Of course, as many have pointed out, aid is rarely altruistic. It can however have an other big word associated with it; serendipity.