ISME never misses a chance to issue a press release. And true to form, this week it issued a missive headed: "ISME Survives the Valley of Hell and Today Commences its Fifth Year."

The news line of the release was that the small business lobby group was five years old. "Contrary to expectations, predictions and, in certain quarters, aspirations, ISME - The Enterprise Association, today enters its fifth year," it said.

The release finished with an invitation to Government to redress "the representational balance" on official bodies by appointing more ISME members.