MORE than 19,000 jobs were lost in 2009 in Enterprise Ireland-backed firms while exports fell 10% to €13 billion.

THE country’s punitive bankruptcy laws must change to encourage more people to get involved in business.

BUSINESSES will benefit from new rules on intellectual property which will make it easier for entrepreneurs to turn creative ideas into “smart” jobs, according to the Enterprise Minister Batt O’Keeffe.

The Government has unveiled details of a plan to create up to 215,000 jobs over the next 10 years.