Mr. Sebastian Barnes:

As the Deputy’s question suggests, this is a very complex issue. The way corporation tax works is complicated. It is complicated from an economic point of view because it interacts with other taxes and because most corporate tax codes are also complex. I would say that many countries are in a situation where they have high rates, but their base is being eroded significantly, not just by international things, but by domestic choices. There is a lot to be said about international corporation tax. It is very complicated and I am not an expert in that subject, in the context of Ireland or any specific country, so I cannot say much more about it. It is an issue, however, and these things need to be looked at. The Commission on Taxation and Welfare will also be thinking of some of these questions in an Irish context.