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REPORTS THAT THE European Commission could launch a formal investigation into Ireland’s corporate tax regime have been described as ‘worrying’.
Fianna Fáil’s finance spokesperson Michael McGrath TD said this afternoon that such a development could ultimately lead to job losses.
International concern about the tax practices of multinational firms has been growing in recent years with both the G7 and European Commission making overtures that they wish to see greater controls globally.
Ireland was brought into specific focus by hearings in the US Senate when Apple’s CFO claimed that the Ireland had given the company a special 2 per cent tax rate over 30 years ago.
The Irish Government denied that Apple paid tax at this rate in Ireland but the claim is believed to have promoted the EU to look at the issue which could lead to a formal investigation.
The Irish Times reports that in San Francisco yesterday California Governor Jerry Brown even joked that “when you look at their (Apple’s) tax return, they are really an Irish company.” Adding that they are in Ireland because of “creative accounting”.
Reacting to speculation that the European Commission could decide on Wednesday to launch an investigation, McGrath said that such a inquiry would be a long-term threat to the economy:
The reality is that any decision by the EU to launch a full blown formal investigation would be a serious and worrying development and could ultimately cost jobs. Such an investigation could take quite a long period of time and represent a lingering threat to our economic recovery.
“If a formal EU investigation is launched, the government needs to be open and transparent in addressing the issues raised and needs to ensure the investigation is concluded quickly and not allowed to drag on over an indefinite period of time,” he added.
An investigation by a Trinity College Professor published earlier this year claimed that multinationals in Ireland paid an effective tax of 2.2 per cent.
This was denied by Taoiseach Enda Kenny who said the figure was closer to 11.9 per cent.
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Would gladly take a pay rise thanks very much. That way i can afford funnier friends
It’s all about work life balance for me.
I’ve worked shift work all my working life which includes nights and earlys and weekends included.Last year took on a project in work that meant i only worked days for 6 months ,tuesdays to fridays and no weekends.I dropped a considerable amount of money due to loss of shift pay but it was the best 6 months i’ve spent working in my life due to the weekends off ,no nights and sociable hours.I would gladly take a pay cut to work it permanently but in my line of work its not feasable.Theres way more important things to a job than money for sure
+1 million
Took a decent pay cut in recent years but now work a 3 day week most weeks and non anti social hours. Wouldlnt go back to the old way even if I was offered double my salary, work is a means to an end
….says anyone that’s getting a nice wage in the first place!
BS! I’d work with satan himself if I could have a pay rise!
Wait… I already do…
So when does the Landsdown Road pay restoration kick in? Ta
Getting paid more is far more desirable than office fun.
Sounds like a survey commissioned to discourage pay rises in place of bean bags and space invader machines.
Thanks the reason that the government gave themselves a pay rise is because they don’t have any craic in their work place
Obviously those surveyed are on good money, for most though a pay rise would be the preferred choice, its ridiculous to say the craic is more important than a proper wage.
Having the so called Craic can be sexual harassment, bullying, gossip mongering and depends who is doing it sociopaths or psychopaths…
The term craic can mean so many things to so many people including racism?
*crack
“Craic” drives me mad too. Or maybe it’s just that I’m no crack.
I highly doubt they’re saying that crack cocaine is better than craic with people!
Might make the day pass faster though! A bit of crack to help deal with the craic!
It’s not an Irish word. It has an unusual history; The English ”crack”was borrowed into Irish as craic in the mid-20th century and the Irish spelling was then reborrowed into English.
It may not be As Gaeilge but craic is an Irish word.
have your say