Pity the poor public servants and executives charged with the onerous task of planning industrial policy. The Margin hears the senior civil servants in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and top executives and chairman of IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, FAS and Forfas had to endure a think-in this week on policy for 1999 in Tinakilly House in Co Wicklow.

They gathered on Wednesday evening and, poor things, were due to work through yesterday. With barely a break for lunch, no doubt.