Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Cotter and Mr. Small and I thank them for a positive presentation. Having worked for an American multinational at one stage and coming from the county of Galway, which has a good deal of American investment, I appreciate many of the issues raised in the presentation. The delegation made a notable reference to competitiveness. What are the main elements on which we need to concentrate and that could have the potential to impact negatively on future investment?

My second question relates to corporation tax. We have heated discussions from time to time in this House about the 12.5% tax rate and the effective rate. I do not exactly share the view but many people believe it would be appropriate to consider putting it to 15%. Would it impact negatively on American investment in Ireland if consideration was given to making some adjustments? I imagine the delegation appreciates the difficult budgetary situation in which we find ourselves. The ordinary taxpayer is being squeezed and is probably unable to carry much more of the taxation burden. We need to consider other ways of raising tax. Will the delegation comment on the question put by Deputy Mitchell on corporation tax?