Bumper year for domestic business

DOMESTIC business last year had its best year since 2000, according to new research from Bank of Ireland.

The bank said there was a strong performance across most sectors of the economy last year, but that pubs and bars were the main losers.

Speaking at the launch of its sectoral review of Irish business yesterday, Bank of Ireland Corporate Banking chief executive Richie Boucher said the bank’s lending patterns over the past year showed clear evidence of an improving business climate.