Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I accept that argument, but I do not see why it does not apply to companies in Ireland that rely on Irish non-executive directors to provide expertise and serve on the boards of companies. They incur expenses which are fully vouched, so there is no profit involved. Why would they be treated differently from a tax point of view at a time when we are trying to support Irish companies, through local enterprise offices and various incubator units around the country? A lot of companies find it difficult to get expertise on their boards. I am struggling to understand why there is different tax treatment.

I can understand the argument being made by, I assume, the IDA and others, from an inward investment point of view, but I hope that Enterprise Ireland and LEOs would make a similar case in respect of Irish companies that rely on Irish expertise serving on their boards in a non-executive capacity where vouched expenses are being paid.