Irish tourism continues to be at odds with State number-crunchers regarding the number of visitors arriving each month. Since last September, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), which carries out forensic surveys and data gathering, has reported a steady and consistent decline, bad enough to fall 30 per cent in February. But ask tourism organisations, and they just don’t see it on the ground. The CSO has been engaging with them on the numbers.

Following similar moves by AIB and PTSB, Bank of Ireland is now considering an offer to buy out thousands of legacy shareholders with tiny holdings after crisis-era bailouts diluted their stakes. Joe Brennan, who was at the bank’s AGM, considers the detail.

The operator of the Six Nations Championship rugby tournament turned a pretax profit of £10.5 million (€12.5 million) in its last financial year, following previous losses. The Ireland-based Six Nations Rugby Limited is also confident of further strong performances. Hugh Dooley looks at the accounts.