Ireland, where she was the guest of honour at XL Europe's tenth anniversary dinner.

In a speech at Dublin's Mansion House, the Premier touched on the need to invest in people and to plan ahead.

While in the Irish capital, the Premier also met the Irish Labour Minister, Dublin-based executives of international companies based in Bermuda, bosses at the International Financial Services Centre and the Industrial Development Authority.

She flew to Ireland after flying to Nassau for the funeral of former Bahamas leader Lynden Pindling.

Last night Ms Smith was in Boston, according to Government Information Services.