Cork Chamber: ‘Competitive tax must be a priority in budget’

Cork Chamber is calling on the Government to prioritise competitive taxation in Budget 2026.

The chamber’s pre-budget submission urges the Government to implement a competitive taxation policy to reduce administrative burdens for businesses and enable innovation and entrepreneurship.

Rob Horgan, Cork Chamber president, said that implementing this policy is a must to protect businesses that will be “unduly impacted by regulatory changes”.

“Cork’s business community is acutely aware of the economic imperative of investing in our competitiveness, now more than ever,” said Mr Horgan.

“Businesses of all sizes, from start-ups to large domestic and multinational firms, know that enhancing our competitiveness demands a whole-of-government approach to address challenges across all areas of the economy.

“The proposals in our Budget 2026 submission are designed to be complementary, driving forward Ireland’s overall competitiveness in a meaningful and achievable way, through targeted measures to encourage innovation, to support scaling domestic firms, and to ensure that SMEs are not unduly impacted by regulatory changes.”

Other issues highlighted in the pre-budget submission are investment in housing, infrastructure, education, renewable energy, urban evolution, and tourism.

Stephen Keohane, Cork Chamber’s budget committee chair and a tax partner at KPMG, said that “enhancing Ireland’s competitive offering for investment and talent attraction is vital. Government must make brave policy choices now to lay the groundwork for sustainable economic growth.”

“Cork Chamber’s Budget 2026 submission underlines the importance of reducing administrative and cost burdens on business, particularly SMEs,” Mr Keohane said.

“Simplifying elements of the tax regime, alongside the corresponding reporting requirements, could help to unlock key incentives like the R&D tax credit for scaling start-ups and SMEs. Measures such as these help to transform the State’s fiscal infrastructure, championing innovation and entrepreneurship.”

Conor Healy, Cork Chamber CEO, said that businesses across Cork want to see a “clear commitment” from government in to the next financial year.

“Our asks for Budget 2026 address the critical areas of housing; infrastructure; education, talent and skills; renewable energy and sustainability; and urban evolution and tourism,” said Mr Healy.

“Each proposal in Cork Chamber’s budget submission is grounded in the priorities, challenges, and needs of our members.