In his Budget 2017 speech Michael Noonan was attempting to balance the support he could give for foreign-owned multinationals, large Irish corporations and small business, all of whom depend on a competitive trading base for selling internationally.

Republican members of the US Congress have consistently blocked legislation that would clamp down on the type of aggressive tax planning that put Ireland in the spotlight over the past number of months, according to Trinity economics professor, Frank Barry.

Almost half of multinationals in Ireland are expecting to grow exports in the next 12 months, according to a new survey released today.