Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

The most recent controversy about Irish taxation of multinationals and the figures produced by Professor Stewart of TCD of an effective rate of 2.2% gives added urgency to the situation. Even if the Minister does not accept that or Mr. Coffey's estimate of 8%, there are serious anomalies and problems in this regard. In 2013, Apple had savings of €146 billion, Microsoft, €80 billion, Google, €56 billion and Samsung, €49 billion. Leaving aside the Irish controversy, these major corporations are free to roam the globe.

They are playing a major anti-social role in just hoovering up whatever they can in massive profits, paying as little tax as they can or no tax. They are hoarding what they have because they are not convinced they will get sufficient return on it if it is invested. Does that not need to be tackled head on with a major taxation change that will take the billions of euro from these funds so they can be put into productive investment by State infrastructure? In other words, these funds can be transferred to the public so the 25 million or 26 million unemployed people in Europe can have a hope of a future. Is that not obvious?