Position papers

Reducing Red Tape seeks to alleviate this pressure with proposals for simplifying administration for businesses across Ireland, including easing the reporting burden, tax simplification, codifying virtual meetings, government supports and funding, and manageable pensions reform.

We ask the Government to strike a fair balance between the necessary administrative work of running a business and the demands of trading at such a challenging time.

An Institute position paper in the Next Financial Year series, Supporting SMEs presents proposals to Government under four headings: resilience and growth, government supports and funding, sources of business finance, and tax measures to reduce the cost of business. Record corporation tax receipts will not always be with us. What is within our ability to control is the growth of indigenous businesses. This will require policies that understand and reflect their needs, and which support them in facing the future with confidence.

An Institute position paper in the Next Financial Year series, Achieving Our Climate Goals presents practical proposals and recommendations for accelerating Ireland’s transition to a net-zero nature-positive economy and society, under three headings: communication and awareness-raising; training and education; and targeted financial supports. Addressing the climate challenge calls for a whole-of-government approach. We encourage the Government to consider these proposals and lead on this critical issue.

Building Capacity is a position paper in the Next Financial Year series. It sets out proposals to improve the business environment in Ireland. They are grouped under six headings: digital transformation, hybrid working, timing of new legislation affecting employers, affordable childcare, attracting taxpayers to Ireland, and accelerating the supply of affordable housing.

Building Capacity is about putting in place the structures to manage and enable future growth. The challenges are complex and often interconnected. Hybrid working and digital skills are closely connected; new working patterns and childcare are inextricably linked; and we cannot attract more skilled people to work in Ireland without providing suitable, affordable housing for them to live in.

This year's edition of the Institute's annual position paper, The Next Financial Year, is a blueprint of the Institute’s public-policy thinking, relevant to issues that affect the lives of entrepreneurs, workers, and their communities. As a compendium of ideas representing our 30,000+ members its canvas is broad and holistic, ranging from technical accounting, tax and governance issues to hybrid working, sustainability and digitalisation.

Three areas in particular are addressed: supporting SMEs, making work and employment attractive, and signposting the journey to net zero. This applies to both jurisdictions and is analysed in detail.

Researched by Prof Ciaran Connolly and Dr Elaine Stewart of Queen’s University Belfast, The Reform of Ireland’s Public Sector Accounting examines the key changes to be considered by the Irish Government while planning public sector accounting reforms. It includes:

• the preparation of accrual accounting information compliant with international public sector accounting standards;
• central government consolidated financial statements; and
• harmonising accounting practices across the Irish public sector.

Drawing on the views of representatives from government departments, agencies, and advisory organisations and individuals, the position paper concludes by recognising the ambition of the planned reforms.

In July 2020, Chartered Accountants Ireland published The Next Financial Year: Making Irish Business More Competitive, a position paper which identifies pathways to a better business environment post-pandemic.

Informed by extensive engagement with members working in practice, industry, SMEs and the public sector, the paper sets out proposals to create workable solutions and alternatives across a range of areas, including digitalisation, tax measures and business supports now open to Government / policymakers to consider.