Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We do not engage in direct discussions because that is obviously an issue for the British authorities. The Vice Chairman will be aware, however, of a very substantial statement issued by the Chancellor of the Exchequer some time ago in which he indicated his intention to seek new agreements with those islands which have a connection with Britain. The Vice Chairman is right to highlight the practices which exist in those territories. The British have taken a very strong view on this matter, particularly in terms of their involvement with the G20. The focus at the G20 meeting in Fermanagh earlier in the year was very strongly on this question, and quite rightly so. Budgets are tight for all countries, and regardless of whether one's state is inside or outside a programme, we must find a way to arrive at a taxation regime which captures the new reality of the digital economy. As I stated in Vilnius last week, that will require a new gold standard which must be agreed by the OECD and internationally. The British are moving on this matter.