Apple Ireland have announced that the iPhone 4 will now be sold in Ireland sim free. This obviously will help greatly with the availability of factory unlocked iPhones for people.
http://store.apple.com/ie/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone?mco=MTgxNTg0NDc#faqs
http://store.apple.com/ie/browse/home/shop_iphone/family/iphone?mco=MTgxNTg0NDc#faqs