Small businesses finding it difficult to get loans are being offered a new lifeline by the Department of Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation.

The country’s 5,000-plus hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs may have to fork out about €3.8m a year to the music industry for providing a radio, television or CD player in guest rooms.

Government spending on consultancy services is set to almost double this year from €19m to €36m.

The Government is tonight on the brink of collapse as the Green Party walked out blaming a complete breakdown in trust, patience and communications in coalition partners Fianna Fáil.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen was urged to keep retiring ministers in their jobs until the election, it was revealed today.

THE overall value of Irish exports should rise by over 3% this year, but more needs to be done to support the growing services sector, according to the industry’s main representative body.