Getting familiar

Madam, - Resident abroad, I was more than surprised, on a recent visit to Dublin, to be addressed by several members of the staff…

Madam, - Resident abroad, I was more than surprised, on a recent visit to Dublin, to be addressed by several members of the staff of a leading enterprise by my Christian name, rather than as "Mrs Lemoine", or "Madam". Is this the practice nowadays in Irish business circles? If so, when did it start, whence did it come, and to what purpose? - Yours, etc.,

A. LEMOINE, Geneva, Switzerland.