The Institute of Certified Public Accountants have broadly welcomed the measures in today's budget designed to encourage business development and entrepreneurship.

A SURVEY of accountancy firms has returned an overwhelming verdict that the banks are not open for business and that the credit crisis for SMEs is worsening.

The Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland has said that today's Budget is "a tax-gathering exercise with little stimulus".

CHANGES in Capital Gains Tax will bring in an extra €250 million next year, boosting the Government’s coffers.

The Institute of Certified Public Accountants has said that today's Budget has done no favours for the competitiveness of Irish business in a year when many businesses have been impacted by the global market slowdown.