Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

I appreciate the Minister's response but I would like specific answers to my questions. Did she raise with Timothy Geithner the fact that Ireland was one of only four territories named in the report? One of the specific examples given related to the US wanting to end the system whereby companies investing in an unnamed country with a 12.5% tax rate are able to offset the cost of building facilities against their tax liability in the US. Did the Minister mention to Mr. Geithner that she was unimpressed Ireland was named among the four territories?

I am glad Ministers and officials will raise this issue with members of Congress at every opportunity but that is not good enough. A concerted lobbying campaign of Congress members is needed. Is a strategy in place to do so or will an ad hoc arrangement be adopted every time there is a visit back and forth?

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