Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
IRISH BUSINESSMAN DENIS O’Brien has claimed that EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager ‘picked on’ Apple after the organisation handed out a huge fine to the company.
In an interview with Bloomberg television, the billionaire, one of Ireland’s wealthiest and most powerful people, said that the tech giant should not be punished over its tax affairs in Ireland.
“Apple played by the rules, there was no special arrangement, it was Apple going by the rules that were set there,” he said in an interview with Bloomberg in New York today.
“Brussels is out of control in terms of the federalism agenda.”
“They (Apple) employ 6,000 people in Cork so they’ve been a good long-term investor in Ireland.”
He added that Vestager, the anti-trust commissioner who was the public face of the EU’s probe into Apple, was singling out the company.
“Vestager just picked on them because they are one of the biggest brands and most valuable companies in the world and said ‘we’re going to try something here (and) I don’t believe it’s going to succeed.”
O’Brien is the founder and owner of mobile phone network provider Digicel and also has various media interests in Ireland, such as his large shareholding in Independent News and Media.
He added that Europe is “not a great place to invest in at the moment”, although he singled out Ireland for an exception.
“Ireland is the shining light, we’ve made a fantastic recovery from the banking crisis,” he said.
Despite Brexit, I think it puts the (focus) back on Ireland as a great place to invest because it’s the only English-speaking country in Europe and you have a highly trained workforce and proper governance.
Landmark ruling
Several weeks ago the European Commission ruled that Ireland gave Apple illegal state aid worth up to €13 billion over a period of more than a decade.
The government has been ordered to recover the funds – plus interest – from the Californian firm.
However it could be years before the money is made available with appeals against the ruling from both Ireland and Apple expected to drag on in the courts.
The government, which recently won a Dáil motion to appeal the ruling, claims it did not do any deal with Apple and that the ruling, if enforced, would damage the country’s reputation.
Several other EU countries, including Spain, Austria and Italy, have signalled that they intend to ask for a share of the €13 billion Apple has been ordered to pay.
This is something that the Irish government has taken issue with, complaining that it is effectively being asked to collect taxes on behalf of other EU countries.
The news also follows recent reports that an Apple iTunes unit in Japan was ordered to pay back over €100 million in taxes over income that was sent to Ireland.
Written by Paul O’Donoghue and posted on Fora.ie
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
After going out to do a days work you expect to return home to your family……….
One of the most dangerous calls a police officer can respond to is a domestic incident. When police arrive they are dealing with two emotionally charged individuals. They then have to step in and try to restore peace or separate them. The police can then have both people turn on them. Sad to hear this incident end so tragically.
@Wingah Boffah: definitely and according to article was regular arguments at address they probably so used to calling and no trouble towards them that guard was down and didn’t expect it very sad and a domestic not like crime the centenary and to kill 2 officers over it
Why is so many articles having comments closed..charities missing funds?senior Garda death?etc,,,
@Tomas: Because the Journal is pro-government?
@Paul Culligan: thejournal are pro Leo not pro-fine gael.
@Tomas:
The risk of people being libelled with regard to the Oxfam scandal and respect for the family of the garda who died in Ballymun because it was probably suicide.
@Tomas: It’s a business and they have no financial incentive to host potentially libelous comments since those unhappy with it will just moan about it for a bit rather than actually stop visiting.
@Rochelle: They have no problem when it comes to SF stories, I’d say its almost encouraged on this site.
@Ciarán Masterson: I suppose there worried about there also worried about Kinahan investments in hotels,
Journal.ie…..open for comment? How thoughtful but you’re good at double standard
@Thosj Carroll: out of interest; do you want this comment section closed, or the other one opened? Can you really not see the difference between the two situations?
@Karen Wellington: I don’t need your lecture and I can look after myself ok
@Thosj Carroll: you could answer her question. She didn’t actually lecture you, she asked you two simple questions. Learn the difference or people might think you’re a little simple
@Ohhh_reeally: Ohhhhhhhhhj really……
Just another day in america.
@cp: yepp 400 million guns under their beds anyone can get one..i bet many americans would buy hand grenades for home security if they were allowed..
I wonder if the police officers had been lucky enough to shoot him first would the black lives matter brigade be out? America is a dangerous place for police officers.
@Michael Mclaughlin: Exactly
@Michael Mclaughlin: not if he had a gun which he clearly did. I wonder if he was white would you be even mentioning his race.
@Deborah Behan: if he were white, black lives matter wouldn’t give a s€?!.
@Michael Mclaughlin: guess what? He’s not white and they don’t give a shit. So what’s your point?
How would a wife-beater with a gun get the drop on two long-serving American cops?
Why didn’t Columbus PD sent a SWAT unit to the scene instead?
@Ciarán Masterson: Good question but SWAT unit doesn’t deal with domestic incident in first place. They deal with manhunt, terrorism, hijack….
@Thosj Carroll:
Agreed.
I was looking at the incident from an Irish point-of-view. Of course, most domestic violence fatalities in Ireland and the UK don’t involve the use of a firearm because of stricter gun law.
@Ciarán Masterson: “how would he get the drop”? Easy really, shoot them as the walk to the door is one way. There are several other ways but you’re probably too experienced in this type of situation for anyone to teach you.
@Ohhh_reeally:
Surely, American cops approaching a possibly violent situation take shelter beside the door and then burst in with their guns aiming outwards (Well, that’s what I see in “Blue Bloods”…Just saying!).
@Ciarán Masterson: ya. Hard to believe you’re an adult
For all the criticism of trump at least he has the constitution to publicly support his emergency services. Here they are used as political footballs
It’s crazy that this man who has multiple convictions for domestic abuse is still legally able to carry on his person a gun at all times! Crazy!
@Deborah Behan: Where did you get that he was allowed to legally hold a firearm from?
@Griff: well unless the police weren’t enforcing the law he was legally allowed to.
@Dave O Keeffe: Lack of enforcement doesn’t make a law void.
have your say