Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

Is the Minister aware that, in tables showing repatriated and overseas profits, Ireland, a relatively small country on the world stage, is at the top, with far more significant overseas profits than any other industrialised country with which we might like to compare ourselves, including Germany and Britain?

Does he agree that, while the Taoiseach obviously cheered on the re-election of President George W. Bush as being, as he saw it, good for Irish business, we are exposed in a changing cultural climate in the United States and elsewhere in which overseas investment and the movement of jobs overseas will lead to pressure on the US Government, regardless of who is in power, to cut back on what are seen as tax havens? While we are not a tax haven in the sense of Bermuda, it will be seen, when the figures are shown that a country the size of Ireland can attract $26 billion a year in profits, that there will ultimately be great political pressure in the United States to amend the tax regime so that we are no longer able to use the advantage of which we have availed for many years. Is the Minister concerned that Ireland is now at the top of the league in that regard and might come under pressure to amend some of its tax haven rules?

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