Ulster Bank is one of the few companies with a very strong presence in both parts of the island with 92 branches in the North and 112 in the Republic.

Chairman Sir George Quigley says the bank has trebled its profitability over the last 10 years, but peace and stability in the North would allow it to extend that further.

"The business community generally has been looking forward for some years, for a quarter of a century really, to the arrival of normal conditions."

A more stable environment should allow the region to really plug into the global economy, opening up new opportunities for increased trade and investment in the North, he says. Peace should also benefit small and medium firms which should be able to boost exports.

"The small business sector is one we are keen to focus on although we are there to serve the whole economy," Sir George says.