It is one of a number of ideas for a more sustainable city that were presented to city councillors yesterday.

There is a call for funding raised from existing and new carbon taxes to be ringfenced to support businesses trying to cut emissions.

Tax returns for July will bring comfort for the time being to Paschal Donohoe and his October budget preparations despite Brexit fears, commentators said, as Vat and corporate tax revenues brought in more than was anticipated in the month.

The fall of Theresa May pushed sterling slightly higher, but only after the currency had fallen sharply in the past week on the prospect her probable successor, hard Brexiteer Boris Johnson would drive Britain out of the EU without a deal.

Sterling fell slightly as Theresa May lost a vote for the third time for her EU withdrawal deal, which could bring a UK general election closer.

Chambers Ireland is welcoming "the progress being made to ensure a disorderly withdrawal from the EU by the UK does not occur."

There has been a broad welcome by business groups towards a Government report on tackling the high cost of employer and public liability insurance.

Business organisations have largely welcomed the Brexit hard border breakthrough, but cautioned that there is a long road ahead in negotiations, before trade arrangements become certain.

Brexit is the biggest worry for Irish companies for next year, a survey has revealed.

Revenue penalties for incorrect tax returns are too severe, incentives for entrepreneurship are much less attractive than other EU countries and the cost of living is too high, business groups have told the Oireachtas Business Committee.

Business organisations have given a broad welcome to a new legislative Act that comes into force tomorrow, saying it will reduce unnecessary red tape and bureaucracy for small business.

Businesses have been urged to avail of a Government fund worth €3.4m to become Brexit-ready.

The Government took in €2.74bn in tax revenue in February — €44m ahead of target — despite both corporation and income tax receipts coming up short of expectations.

Irish-owned firms which employ large numbers of people are being hit by the slump in sterling, the latest trade figures suggest.

Business groups on both sides of the Irish Sea said they were dismayed by prime minister Theresa May’s hard Brexit plans.

Opponents of a north/south electricity interconnector which would see 300 pylons 15m high being built across counties Meath, Cavan and Monaghan are likely to seek a judicial review of the planning decision.

The Brexit vote has created much unease on Irish shores. Ian Talbot, CEO of Chambers Ireland, puts it in perspective.

As Brexit polls suggest a ‘leave’ vote is possible, business in Ireland can’t afford to be complacent, says Kyran Fitzgerald.

Prominent supporters of the proposed Cork-US flights have launched a targeted offensive on key US politicians in a bid to secure the service.

It is vital that ongoing negotiations on the formation of the next government deliver a clear, comprehensive agreement that will ensure the next administration is in a position to run its full term.

Chambers Ireland, the country's largest business network, said it is disappointed that there were no direct measures in Budget 2015 to help businesses.

Chambers Ireland are calling on the Government to implement measures in Budget 2015 to help all businesses around the country.

Up to €4bn in lending will be made available to small and medium businesses who will be given repayment holidays and up to 10 years to pay back loans.

Ireland is setting up a new state bank to pump hundreds of millions of euro into struggling small businesses.

The Government remains on track to meet the 4.8% fiscal deficit target agreed with the troika by the end of this year.

Horizon 2020 has been called Ireland’s billion-euro opportunity.

Improved trading conditions have resulted in demand for bank finance among SMEs falling to the lowest level for two years.

A broader consultation process regarding long-term tax deadlines for small businesses and self-assessed payers, and the removal of late filing penalties, have been called for, in light of the Government postponing — rather than scrapping — proposed changes to the pay-and-file deadlines.

Bank of Ireland and AIB remain on track to achieve their €4bn SME loan approval targets for 2013, but of the amount sanctioned to date only 34% qualifies as new lending, the Credit Review Office has stated.

Some of the largest business lobby groups have been accused of being contradictory with their wish lists for next month’s budget.

There was a 1% increase in the value of exports over the month of June, but a 4% rise in imports over the same period saw the trade surplus decrease by 2%.

Outsourcing back-to-work initiatives, cutting capital gains tax for entrepreneurs and reducing the level of council rates in town centres are just some of the initiatives contained in the Chambers Ireland pre-budget submission.

A Cork town has vowed to fight realignment of county-wide commercial rates.

A halving of the 33% capital gains tax (CGT) rate for entrepreneurs would support new business creation and incentivise risk takers, Chambers Ireland has said.

Chambers Ireland has urged the European Commission to reject Ryanair’s takeover proposal for Aer Lingus, saying the €694m deal would be anti-competitive and bad for Irish business.

Chambers Ireland, which represents businesses across the country, has joined the campaign to bring in laws to end the exploitation, abuse and trafficking of women and girls by criminalising the buying of sex.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits fell last month, but the number of long-term claimants has increased over the same period last year.

Seasonally-adjusted figures have shown a small decrease in the number of people signing on the Live Register in December.