Brendan Howlin says pressure on for Tiger-style tax cuts

Pressure is on to return to the Celtic Tiger years with demands for tax cuts as Ireland’s economic growth looks set to outstrip China’s, Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin has said.

However, the Labour minister has also admitted that measures will have to be introduced to help builders get increased profits, if the housing crisis is to be tackled.

In an interview with the Irish Examiner, Mr Howlin outlined priorities for next week’s budget that he is finalising with Michael Noonan, the finance minister.