Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Let us go back to the Paradise Papers. One of the members of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists mentioned by Mr. Coffey is the journalist Simon Bowers. He was before the European Parliament today. He gave testimony on "many references by corporations in the data included in the Paradise Papers to using the Single Malt as a possible workaround to the phaseout of the Double Irish". It has been named the "single malt". The structure has been known about but there has not been much traction with the name. Perhaps we need to start giving these tax avoidance schemes fancier names to get some traction for them.

First, it is an issue in terms of Irish legislation and how our tax law interacts with other legislation. It causes serious reputational damage to the State as well. It should not be happening. Does Mr. Coffey have any concerns in respect of this type of tax avoidance scheme? It is a matter between ourselves and Malta but it could equally apply between ourselves and several other jurisdictions. It need not necessarily be Malta. What can be done to tackle it?

I am unsure whether it was the Taoiseach or the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform who said to me last week that he was going to start to look to see whether this was being used. We all know it has been used for some time. Does Mr. Coffey have any concerns or views on the matter?