UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                (Amendment No. )*


                              The New Ireland Fund Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)


                                  common stock
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)


                                    645673104
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)


                                   Keith Walsh
                               Senior Compliance Manager
                        Bank of Ireland Asset Management
                                 40 Mespil Road
                                Dublin 4, Ireland
                                011-353-1-6378119


                                 Rosemary Mahon
                                    Director
                 Bank of Ireland Asset Management (U.S.) Limited
                               75 Holly Hill Lane
                               Greenwich, CT 06830
                                  203-869-0111
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
               Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

                               September 29, 1997

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      (Date of Event which Requires Filing
                               of this Statement)

     If the filing  person has  previously  filed a statement of Schedule 13G to
report the  acquisition  which is the subject of the Schedule 13D, and is filing
this  schedule  because  of Rule  13d-1(e),  13d-1(f)  or  13d-1(g),  check  the
following box [ ].

*The  remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting  person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any  subsequent  amendment  containing  information  which  would  alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise  subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but  shall be  subject  to all other  provisions  of the Act  (however,  see the
Notes).

                               Page 1 of 18 Pages




CUSIP No. 645673104           Schedule 13D             Page 2 of 11 Pages


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
       S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

       The Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                             (a)  [ X ]
                                                             (b)  [   ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   3   SEC USE ONLY

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   4   SOURCE OF FUNDS*

       AF

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   5   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
       ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)                                         [  ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   6   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

       Republic of Ireland

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   NUMBER OF      7    SOLE VOTING POWER
     SHARES            0
  BENEFICIALLY    --------------------------------------------------------------
    OWNED BY      8    SHARED VOTING POWER
      EACH             274,800
   REPORTING      --------------------------------------------------------------
     PERSON       9    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
      WITH             0
                  --------------------------------------------------------------
                  10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                       274,800

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

         274,800

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*

                                                                      [  ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

       5.5%

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

       HC

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!




CUSIP No. 645673104           Schedule 13D             Page 3 of 11 Pages


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
       S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

       BIAM Holdings


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                             (a)  [ X ]
                                                             (b)  [   ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   3   SEC USE ONLY

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   4   SOURCE OF FUNDS*

       AF

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   5   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
       ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)                                         [  ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   6   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

       Republic of Ireland

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   NUMBER OF      7    SOLE VOTING POWER
     SHARES            0
  BENEFICIALLY    --------------------------------------------------------------
    OWNED BY      8    SHARED VOTING POWER
      EACH             274,800
   REPORTING      --------------------------------------------------------------
     PERSON       9    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
      WITH             0
                  --------------------------------------------------------------
                  10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                       274,800

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

       274,800

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*

                                                                      [  ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

       5.5%

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

       HC

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!




CUSIP No. 645673104           Schedule 13D             Page 4 of 11 Pages


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
       S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

       Bank of Ireland Asset Management Limited


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                             (a)  [ X ]
                                                             (b)  [   ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   3   SEC USE ONLY


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   4   SOURCE OF FUNDS*

       OO

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   5   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
       ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)                                         [  ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   6   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

       Republic of Ireland

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   NUMBER OF      7    SOLE VOTING POWER
     SHARES            0
  BENEFICIALLY    --------------------------------------------------------------
    OWNED BY      8    SHARED VOTING POWER
      EACH             265,800
   REPORTING      --------------------------------------------------------------
     PERSON       9    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
      WITH             0
                  --------------------------------------------------------------
                  10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                       265,800

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

       265,800

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*

                                                                      [  ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

       5.3%

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*


       IA

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!




CUSIP No. 645673104           Schedule 13D             Page 5 of 11 Pages


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
       S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

       Bank of Ireland Asset Management (U.S.) Limited


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                             (a)  [ X ]
                                                             (b)  [   ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   3   SEC USE ONLY


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   4   SOURCE OF FUNDS*

       PF

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   5   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
       ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)                                         [  ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   6   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

       Republic of Ireland

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   NUMBER OF      7    SOLE VOTING POWER
     SHARES            0
  BENEFICIALLY    --------------------------------------------------------------
    OWNED BY      8    SHARED VOTING POWER
      EACH             9,000
   REPORTING      --------------------------------------------------------------
     PERSON       9    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
      WITH             0
                  --------------------------------------------------------------
                  10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                       9,000

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

       9,000

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*

                                                                      [  ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

       0.2%

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

       CO


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!




CUSIP No. 645673104           Schedule 13D             Page 6 of 11 Pages


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
       S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

       Bank of Ireland EUT Smaller Equities Fund


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                             (a)  [ X ]
                                                             (b)  [   ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   3   SEC USE ONLY


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   4   SOURCE OF FUNDS*

       PF

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   5   CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
       ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)                                         [  ]


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   6   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

       Republic of Ireland

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   NUMBER OF      7    SOLE VOTING POWER
     SHARES            0
  BENEFICIALLY    --------------------------------------------------------------
    OWNED BY      8    SHARED VOTING POWER
      EACH             265,800
   REPORTING      --------------------------------------------------------------
     PERSON       9    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
      WITH             0
                  --------------------------------------------------------------
                  10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                       265,800

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

       265,800

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*

                                                                      [  ]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

       5.3%

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*


       OO

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!




CUSIP No. 645673104           Schedule 13D             Page 7 of 11 Pages

Item 1

(a) The name of the issuer is The New Ireland Fund, Inc

(b) The address of the issuers principal executive office is;

         The New Ireland Fund, Inc.
         c/o PFPC Inc.
         99 High Street
         27th Floor
         Boston, MA, 02110

This filing  relates to the common stock,  of The New Ireland Fund Inc, a closed
end investment company (the "Issuer").

The  information  presented on the cover sheets for each filing  person is based
upon  ownership  as of September  29,  1997.  The percent of class is based upon
5,009,000  shares  of  common  stock  issued and outstanding as of September 29,
1997.

Item 2.   Identity and Background.

The following  information relates to the structure of the reporting entities as
of April 29, 2004.

This  statement is filed by The Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland (the
"Bank of Ireland"),  BIAM  Holding("BIAMH"),  Bank of Ireland  Asset  Management
Limited ("BIAML"),Bank of Ireland Asset Management (U.S.) Limited ("BIAMUS") and
Bank of  Ireland  EUT  Smaller  Equities  Fund  ("BIEUTSEF)  (collectively,  the
"Reporting Persons").

The  principal  business  address of Bank of Ireland  is Bank of  Ireland,  Head
Office, Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.

The principal  business address of BIAMH,BIAML and BIEUTSEF is 40 Mespil Road,
Dublin 4, Ireland.

The principal  business  address of BIAMUS is 75 Holly Hill Lane, Greenwich, CT,
06830.

Bank of Ireland, BIAML, BIAMH and BIAMUS are Irish corporations.  BIEUTSEF is an
Irish  Unit  Trust - a  commingled  investment  vehicle  for  Irish  Tax  Exempt
investors.

The  principal  business  of Bank  of  Ireland  is the  provision  of  financial
services.  Bank of  Ireland  is the sole  shareholder  of BIAMH.  The  principal
business  of  BIAMH  is to  serve  as a  holding  company.  BIAMH  is  the  sole
shareholder  of BIAML.  The  principal  business  of BIAML is to act as an Irish
Investment  Adviser to a range of  discretionary  clients,  managing a number of
accounts  containing  securities  over which  BIAML has  voting and  dispositive
power. These clients are primarily institutional clients. BIAMH is also the sole
shareholder  in  BIAMUS.  The  principal  business  of  BIAMUS is to act as a US
registered  Investment Adviser to a range of discretionary  clients,  managing a
number of  accounts  containing  securities  over  which  BIAMUS  has voting and
dispositive power. These clients are primarily institutional clients.



CUSIP No. 645673104          Schedule 13D               Page 8 of 11 Pages

The  directors of Bank of Ireland are Michael  Soden,  Denis  O'Brien,  Laurence
Crowley, Richard Burrows, Caroline Marland, Raymond MacSharry, Mary Redmond, Roy
Bailie,  Maurice Keane, Brian Goggin,  Donal Greaney,  John O'Donovan and Thomas
Moran.  The  executive  officers  of Bank of Ireland  are  Michael  Soden,  John
Collins, Des Crowley,  Cyril Dunne, Brian Goggin, Roy Keenan, John O'Donovan and
Jeff  Warren.  The  principal  occupation  of each such person is to serve as an
officer or director of Bank of Ireland,  and the principal  business  address of
each such person,  other than Mr. Goggin,  is c/o Bank of Ireland,  Head Office,
Lower Baggot Street,  Dublin 2, Ireland.  The principal  business address of Mr.
Goggin is c/o Bank of Ireland Asset Management  Limited,  40 Mespil Road, Dublin
4, Ireland.

The  directors and  executive  officers of BIAML are Denis Curran,  Brian Goggin
Giles Kerr,  Anthony  Haslam,  Fred Healy,  Eugene Holland,  Richard Kelly,  Pat
Lardner,  Jim McMahon,  Jane Neill, Leona Nicholson,  John Nolan, Kevin O'Brien,
Ronan  O'Donoghue,  Sean O'Dwyer,  Chris Reilly,  Ronan Smith,  Des Sullivan and
Peter  Wood.  The  principal  occupation  of each such  person is to serve as an
officer  or  director  of BIAML.  The  principal  business  address of each such
person, other than Mr. Kerr and Mr. Curran is c/o BIAML, 40 Mespil Road, Dublin
4, Ireland.  The principal business address of Mr. Curran is c/o Bank of Ireland
Asset  Management (U.S.)  Limited,  75 Holly Hill  Lane,  Greenwich,  CT 06830.
The principal business address for Mr Kerr is c/o Bank of Ireland,  Head Office,
Lower Baggot Street,  Dublin 2, Ireland.

The directors and executive officers of BIAMH are Sean O'Dwyer, Peter Nugent and
Brian Goggin,  whose principal occupation is to serve as directors and executive
officers of BIAMH.  The principal  business  address of each such person,  other
than Mr Nugent is c/o BIAMH,  40 Mespil Road,  Dublin 4 Ireland.  The  principal
business address for Mr Nugent is c/o Bank of Ireland, Head Office, Lower Baggot
Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.

The directors and executive  officers of BIAMUS are Denis Curran, Chris Reilly,
Brian  Goggin,Sean  O'Dwyer,  Michael McCarthy,  Rosemary Mahon,  Lelia Long and
Stephen Holland.  The principal  business address for Mr Curran, Mr Holland,  Ms
Long and Ms Mahon is 75 Holly  Hill  Lane,Greenwich,  CT  06830.  The  principal
business  address  for Mr O'Dwyer,  Mr  Reilly,Mr  McCarthy  and Mr Goggin is 40
Mespil Road, Dublin 4 Ireland.

BIEUTSEF,  as a Unit Trust,  does not have any directors or executive  officers.
Its Trustees are Bank of Ireland Trustees and BIAML is its investment manager.

None of the Reporting Persons nor any of the directors or executive directors of
any of the Reporting  Persons has, during the last five years, been convicted in
a criminal proceeding  (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or
been a party to a civil  proceeding  of a  judicial  or  administrative  body of
competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a
judgment,  decree or final order enjoining future  violations of, or prohibiting
or mandating  activities subject to, Federal or State securities laws or finding
any violation with respect to such laws.

Item 3.   Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

The securities reported in Item 5 as beneficially owned by the Reporting Persons
were acquired as follows:  Accounts  managed by BIAML  purchased an aggregate of
265,800 shares of Common Stock for a total  consideration of $2,223,023  derived
from the capital of the managed accounts.  BIAMUS made a personal  investment of
9,000 shares as seed capital for the New Ireland Fund Inc.




CUSIP No. 645673104          Schedule 13D               Page 9 of 11 Pages

Item 4 Purpose of Transaction

Between  1990  and  1995,  BIAML purchased in total 265,800 Shares of the Issuer
(representing,   in aggregate  and  as  accumulated over time,  5.3%  beneficial
ownership)  for  various  non-US  commingled  funds ("Foreign Funds") managed by
BIAML  on  a fully discretionary basis,  to  gain  exposure for  the  investment
portfolios of these Foreign Funds to Irish equities in a less expensive and more
price-effective  manner  than  could  be provided  by  direct investment  in the
underlying equity securities owned by the Issuer (a closed-end country fund). In
1997 that shares held by the Foreign Funds were transferred  and consolidated in
the investment portfolio of the BIEUTSEF,   another Foreign  Fund and  Reporting
Person  on  this  Schedule,    where  the  Shares  continue  to  be  held.    At
the time of the original purchases, at the time of the transfer/consolidation of
Shares into the BIEUTSEF, and currently,  the Reporting Persons state that there
were no, and continue to be no, plans or proposals  that any of them had or have
which  relate  to or would  result  in:  (a) the  acquisition  by any  person of
additional Shares, or the disposition of Shares; (b) an extraordinary  corporate
transaction,  such as a merger,  reorganization  or  liquidation,  involving the
Issuer or any of its  subsidiaries;  (c) a sale or transfer of a material amount
of assets of the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries;  (d) any change in the prior
or present board of directors or management of the Issuer, including no plans or
proposals  to change the  number or term of  directors  or to fill any  existing
vacancies on the board; (e) any material change in the present capitalization or
dividend  policy of the Issuer;  (f) any other  material  change in the Issuer's
business or corporate  structure,  including no plans or proposals to change the
investment  policy of the Issuer for which a vote would have been or is required
by Section 13 of the Investment  Company Act of 1940; (g) change in the Issuer's
charter, bylaws or instruments  corresponding thereto or other actions which may
impede the  acquisition  of control of the Issuer by any  person;  (h) causing a
class of  securities  of the Issuer to be  delisted  from a national  securities
Exchange or to cease to be authorized to be quoted in an inter-dealer  quotation
system of a registered  national securities  association;  (i) a class of equity
securities  of the Issuer  becoming  eligible for  termination  of  registration
pursuant to Section 12(g)(4) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934; or (j) any
action similar to any of the foregoing.  Regarding (f) above, any vote presented
to the Issuer's shareholders as required by Section 13 of the Investment Company
Act of 1940 will be voted with  respect  to Shares  owned by the Bank of Ireland
EUT Smaller  Equities  Fund and Shares owned by BIAMUS will be voted in the same
proportion as the vote of all other holders of such security.  All investment in
Shares by the Foreign Funds,  and the BIEUTSEF, were made with the intent to be
passive investments and there was no intent, and there is no current intent,  to
exercise  any  control or  influence  over the Issuer.

Item 5.   Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

(a) and (b)
As of September 29, 1997,  the Reporting  Persons may be deemed to  beneficially
own in the aggregate  274,800 shares of Common Stock,  representing  5.5% of the
outstanding  Common Stock (the  percentage of shares of Common Stock owned being
based upon 5,009,000  shares of Common Stock  outstanding at September 29, 1997.
The transaction by The Reporting Persons may be deemed to have direct beneficial
ownership of shares of Common Stock as follows:

Name                          Number of Shares                  Percentage

BIAML                                   265,800                       5.3%
BIEUTSEF (Managed by BIAML)             265,800                       5.3%
BIAMUS                                    9,000                       0.2%


BIAML has  direct  beneficial  ownership  of the  shares of Common  Stock in the
accounts  which it manages.  In such  capacity,  BIAML has the right to vote and
direct the  disposition  of shares of Common  Stock held by such  entities  and,
consequently, has beneficial ownership of such shares.

BIAMUS  has  direct  beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock which it
purchased to provide seed capital to the Issuer.  In such  capacity,  BIAMUS has
the right to vote and direct the  disposition  of shares of Common Stock held by
such entities and, consequently, has beneficial ownership of such shares.

BIAMH as the  controlling  member of BIAML and BIAMUS,  may be deemed to possess
beneficial  ownership of the shares of Common Stock  beneficially owned by BIAML
and BIAMUS.  Bank of Ireland, as the sole shareholder of BIAMH, may be deemed to
possess beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by
BIAMH, BIAML and BIAMUS as the sole shareholder of BIAMH.

BIEUTSEF has direct beneficial  ownership  of  the  shares of Common Stock which
it purchased as a passive investment.  In such capacity,  BIEUTSEF has the right
to vote and  direct  the  disposition  of shares of  Common  Stock  held by such
entities and, consequently, has beneficial ownership of such shares.

(c) Other than the  transactions  in  Schedule  1, No  Reporting  Person nor any
director  or  executive  officer  of  any  Reporting  Person  has  effected  any
transactions  in the Common  Stock  during  either in the past 60 days or the 60
days prior to the effective date of this filing.

(d) No person other than the  Reporting  Persons has any right to receive or the
power to direct the receipt of dividends  from,  or the proceeds of the sale of,
any of the Common Stock beneficially owned by the Reporting Persons, except that
the dividends from, or proceeds from the sale of, shares of Common Stock in each
respective  account managed by BIAML will be delivered into each such respective
account.

(e) Not applicable.

Item 6:

BIAMUS  is  under  common  control  with BIAML, the discretionary manager to the
Foreign Funds and BIEUTSEF.   BIAMUS also  is  the  investment  adviser  to  the
Issuer. Other than these relationships, there are no contracts, arrangements, or
understandings among or between the Reporting Persons or  otherwise with respect
to  the  Shares of the Issuer,  including  without limitation,  the  transfer or
voting of any of the securities, or the giving or withholding of proxies, except
as follows.  To avoid conflicts of interest associated with any matter  put to a
vote of shareholders of the Issuer, Shares owned by BIEUTSEF and BIAMUS  will be
voted in the same proportion as all other Shares of the Issuer are voted.





CUSIP No. 645673104           Schedule 13D           Page 10 of 11 Pages



                                   SIGNATURE.


After  reasonable  inquiry  and to the  best  of our  knowledge  and belief,  we
certify that the information  set forth in this  statement is true, complete and
correct.


Date: April 30, 2004


                              THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF THE BANK OF IRELAND

                         By:  /s/ Brian Goggin
                              ----------------------------------
                              Brian Goggin
                              Director


                              BIAM Holdings

                         By:  /s/ Sean O'Dwyer
                              ----------------------------------
                              Sean O'Dwyer
                              Director


                              Bank of Ireland Asset Management Limited

                         By:  /s/ Sean O'Dwyer
                              ----------------------------------
                              Sean O'Dwyer
                                 Director


                              Bank of Ireland Asset Management (U.S.) Limited

                         By:  /s/ Rosemary Mahon
                              ----------------------------------
                              Rosemary Mahon
                              Director


                                 Bank of Ireland EUT Smaller Equities Fund

                           By:  /s/ Keith Walsh
                              ----------------------------------
                              Keith Walsh
                              Authorised Signatory




CUSIP No. 645673104          Schedule 13D               Page 11 of 11 Pages



                                   SCHEDULE I
                 REPORTING PERSONS TRANSACTIONS IN COMMON STOCK


The  transaction  below  was a cross  trade of  Common  Stock by BIAML  from its
discretionary Foreign Fund Clients to BIEUTSEF.


Date                                     Number of Shares   Price Per Share (1)


September 29, 1997 by BIEUTSEF     Buy            248,600            $16.6875
September 29, 1997 by BIAML        Sell           248,600            $16.6875