Real estate investors in Ireland are expected to spend approximately EUR 8 bn on commercial property assets in Europe this year. Half of the transactions are already under way, according to Henry Cleary, head of real estate at Barclays Bank Ireland. Speaking at the bank's recent European real estate seminar, Cleary said Irish investors will spend approximately EUR 4.4 bn in the UK and the other EUR 3.5 bn in continental Europe, mainly Germany, France Belgium and Sweden.