Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland for being here.

The Apple ruling made international front pages from the Financial Timesto Metroin London, with headlines proclaiming fury at Apple’s 0.005% tax bill. A poll of international readers of The Economistfound that the majority agreed that rules were flouted regarding Apple’s tax arrangement. This continues to be terrible publicity for Ireland. There are no two ways about it. It is that publicity and the perception of Ireland as a tax haven that is damaging. Does Mr. Redmond believe our reputation could be somewhat salvaged or restored by Ireland coming clean and not appealing the Commission’s ruling? Would it not be better if Ireland admitted that it had done things wrong in the past, that it did not have tax fairness or transparency, and that it lacked what I would call a progressive tax system? If we said we will do it right in the future, would that not create absolute certainty for companies?