Government must do more for firms

A budget beckons and, undoubtedly, yet more austerity awaits. But what can Ireland's business community expect from Budget 2014? Will Minister for Finance Michael Noonan help ease the pressure on struggling Irish firms, through innovative and bold proposals? Or will he be forced to implement a number of unpalatable measures to make the budgetary arithmetic work?

The early rhetoric suggests that government will try to help businesses and entrepreneurs in particular, but nonetheless ...