Finance Minister Michael Noonan has announced measures targeted at helping indigenous small and medium-sized businesses.
He said the first €100,000 of spending on research and development (R&D) would now be allowed to qualify for the R&D tax credit.
Firms will also be allowed to use some of the R&D tax credit to reward key employees involved in research.
A corporation tax exemption for new start-up companies is being extended and will be available to firms which start trading in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Small companies will also be allowed to use a planned foreign earnings deduction when they plan to expand export markets into the so-called BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China).
Minister Noonan said these measures were in addition to the recent announcements of a loan guarantee fund and a micro-finance fund.
On tourism, the Minister said the Government's offer of abolishing the travel tax in return from commitments from Aer Lingus and Ryanair on additional routes was still on the table.
Mr Noonan also announced that there would be a special allocation set aside in the revised spending estimates early next year for 2013's "year of the gathering" - an initiative designed to attract the global Irish to visit the country and boost tourism.
He also announced measures aimed at the agri-food sector, including changes in retirement relief from capital gains tax, aimed at encouraging the transfers of farms and businesses before the current owners reached the age of 66. More details will be announced in the Finance Bill.
An enhanced 50% stock relief will also be introduced for all registered farm partnerships and 100% relief for some young farmers forming such partnerships.
