Budget 2017: SFA: Brexit-proofing claim is ludicrous

Even in a budget with very little room for manoeuvre, this Government has missed an opportunity to address the many issues facing entrepreneurs, which would assist them in providing additional employment and driving prosperity all parts of the country.

In particular, the claim by the Government that this budget is somehow ‘Brexit-proofing’ our economy is ludicrous. It fails entirely to recognise the fact the UK is already significantly more tax-competitive than Ireland with regards to starting and running a small business, and we need immediate changes just to get back on a level playing field.

Making our tax system competitive with the UK in areas such as capital gains tax (CGT) and employee share options must be done today, not in a years’ time. The Department of Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation has, at least, received a 10% increase in its budget allocation, and we need to ensure a portion of this funding goes to our hard-hit exporters, who are facing a currency crisis greater than anything we have ever seen.