Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

It goes to show that if one kicks up a bit of a fuss about something, it can produce some movement. As the Minister knows, I have been kicking up for some time about the scandalous situation where corporations which make vast profits every year in this country pay little or no tax. The provision is welcome in that context, but it is slightly alarming that the Minister has put off its implementation, in what seems essentially to be a case of giving the multinationals a chance to find other ways to avoid tax. In fact, the overriding policy not only of the Government but of all Governments in the history of the State seems be one of whatever we do, we must not annoy these people who do not like paying taxes. Will the Minister answer that point?

Will the Minister report on discussions he has had with representatives of these companies in the context of this measure? The narrative in response to those few of us who have argued that corporations should pay a little more tax is essentially that the sky would fall on our heads and the economy would be ruined if we were to ask the people concerned to pay the tax they should be paying and thus make some level of fair contribution to the running of the economy and society. In so far as he had discussions and consultations with these parties, can the Minister tell us whether they are, in fact, claiming that the sky will fall on our heads if we make any move that might lead to their becoming properly tax liable?