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

I thank both witnesses for their attendance and highly illuminating submissions. Is Ms O'Brien's argument not that we are being held hostage by multinational companies and we have no choice but to submit to their blackmail? Is it reasonable or sustainable for an economy to operate in such a manner and that, out of fear that multinational companies will up sticks and leave, we must tread softly in terms of how we treat them as we seek to ensure they pay a reasonable contribution to the State and society that facilitate them in making so much profit? Is Ms O'Brien not stating in polite language that we must accept blackmail because multinational companies are essentially blackmailing us?