The finance minister has given the clearest hint yet that taxes could be cut in the next Budget.

Michael Noonan's outlined a range of possible tax reforms which he says would boost certain industries and help employers to create more jobs.

Earlier the junior finance minister Brian Hayes said he'd like to see tax cuts introduced as early as the next Budget in October.

But Minister Noonan's denied that he's simply making the comments to win votes in the local elections: