Dáil debates

Tuesday, 4 December 2012

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed)

Diplomatic Representation

4:40 pm

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In terms of corporate tax, the issue is not so much our policy, which is clear, in terms of maintaining the rate but that in previous times the Administration did issue documentation suggesting we were a tax haven which it had subsequently to correct. The Taoiseach has contacts with the business community and with American companies. We have double taxation laws with many countries. We are in an above-board, transparent and legal corporate taxation framework. In the aftermath of the presidential election there will be an anti-outsourcing lobby in America which believes that jobs are leaving American shores. In many ways it is a protectionist approach to what is a globalised economy. In order for American companies to gain additional custom and to sell their goods and services they set up overseas in major markets. They have set up in European markets for some time and we have been a beneficiary of that. There is a need for an initiative to be taken. Have we taken any initiative to counteract a campaign that will be under way in the aftermath of the election? After the previous presidential election such a campaign involved situating key expert personnel in our embassy in Washington in order to support the ambassador in dealing with legislators on Capitol Hill and bringing a greater understanding of what is the situation in this country. That is the point I was making to the Taoiseach.

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