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

I am not as optimistic as Ms O'Brien. The G8 was dealing with global poverty and inequality ten or 15 years ago. We have not seen much movement on that front. I admire Ms O’Brien’s optimism.

I commend Professor Stewart on challenging the consensus in this area. What he has said today is very important. It runs counter to everything that is being asserted by mainstream commentators, the Government, and the political establishment. They say there is nothing to see here in the way of low effective rates. Professor Stewart says there is. Can he confirm that the general rule for allocating profits in Ireland and internationally is that if a company is incorporated in a particular place it pays tax in a particular place but this does not apply in Ireland in respect of multinationals? There is a more favourable regime for them. This is central to how they avoid paying tax.