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Wed 05 May 2007Over 5,000 new firms started in first quarterMore than 5,000 new companies were started in the first quarter of 2007, according to Bank of Ireland Business Banking's Business Start-Up Barometer.The latest results show a slight drop in first-quarter company formations from 5,311 in 2006 to 5,276 in 2007. But while the figures may have slowed, they are still well ahead of registrations in the same period during the first three months of 2005, the bank said.