Business tax will be kept at levels which help enterprise, the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, has pledged again. Speaking at the Irish Entrepreneur of the Year awards last night, Mr McCreevy also promised that he would set personal income tax levels "which are fair, which reward effort and encourage success".

Mr Eddie Jordan was voted Ireland's 2000 Entrepreneur of the Year in the third year of the awards. Mr Brian Long, chief executive of Parthus Technologies, won the technology entrepreneur of the year award. Two additional awards were given to Mr Stewart Kenny, managing director of Paddy Power Bookmakers, and Mr Pat McDonagh, chairman of Riverdeep.