Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 15 July 2021

Committee on Budgetary Oversight

Summer Economic Statement: Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister knows, there is only one way to change our corporation tax rate and that is through legislation passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas. No international group, body or external force can do that. Ministers for Finance who have come before this committee down through the decades would have had no problem answering the question and saying that the rate would not change. The Minister has made those commitments at different points, as have others. He has staked his reputation and that of the country on this by aligning us with a small group of countries that have opted out of this agreement, which includes 132 countries. I have made it clear that I believe the Minister should defend Ireland's national interests. I must say that I believe he is failing at this point, given the level of opposition to his position. I want to know how far he is going to take this because there is reputational damage involved. Will he give a commitment that he will not change the rate? Ultimately, it will come down to him, as Minister for Finance, to decide whether to increase that rate or to stay outside this process. It appears to anybody looking in from the outside that this rate is, unfortunately, increasing.

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