The Margin is not suggesting anything in particular should be read into the fact but found it interesting nevertheless that National Irish Bank, the financial institution which won last year's annus horibilis award, has been making direct contact with the media in recent weeks. Murray Consultants, one of the largest of the Republic's public relations companies, had been the conduit for all contact up to very recently but the bank has now appointed its own man, Nick Garbutt, a former journalist. With the Tanaiste, Ms Harney's two High Court-appointed inspectors still beavering away on their reports on interest- and fee-loading, and the sale of unauthorised offshore insurance bonds, Mr Garbutt should be in for an interesting year.