Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

All groups in Northern Ireland have pressed for a change in the corporation tax rate; it is one of the few areas where there is total agreement among all sides, including unions, industry, business and political parties. They have put forward their case in the last nine months to the British Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Government has also made the case for this change, with the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Finance putting forward their views to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on various occasions.

No decision has been made on this, however, and it is difficult to see how the Chancellor could introduce separate rules for Northern Ireland. Nevertheless, a coherent case has been made as to how it could happen.

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