Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will not have the opportunity to raise every individual case referred to here with the US administration or the President individually. Clearly, time will not allow for all those things to be debated. However, it will be opportune, given our Presidency, to raise the issue of our concerns about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the issues surrounding that. From a European perspective, I will have the opportunity to articulate that on behalf of the Presidency.

The question of taxation is not confined to Ireland. I was glad the US administration clarified over a number of years allegations that Ireland was some kind of tax haven. Our corporation tax rate is very transparent and applies across the spectrum. I will have the opportunity to discuss with the President the imprimatur being given to negotiations and discussions on the EU-US free trade partnership agreement concept, which I strongly support and to which I have referred over many years in this House, not just from these benches. Deputy Higgins will understand that the process in the US requires that a 90-day notification be given to the authorities so that this could commence. That means that if we can organise it at an early stage now and get that platform and mandate, those negotiations and discussions will be able to commence after the Irish Presidency concludes but of which we will be very supportive. On his way back from Texas this week, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation met with his counterparts in Washington D.C. and reported to me that there was a very positive engagement and attitude towards dealing with that high level report and its consequences.

The Deputy is aware that 150,000 Irish jobs are supported by US companies here. I met with the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland recently and the indications are that the continued line of investment in Ireland remains very strong. As Deputy Higgins knows from his native county, things have changed and Irish companies supported by Enterprise Ireland now employ almost 100,000 Americans across 50 states, which is a very welcome trend that helps to boost our exports. I assume that the question of European tax systems and other countries' tax positions will be part of those negotiations and discussions.

It is not for me to engage in the detail of the taxation issues surrounding US companies in countries outside the US. We are very clear on our tax position. Obviously, the impact of investment in the country is very substantial and supports a great number of jobs. I hope I have the opportunity to raise these matters with the US administration and the President. I also want to confirm that the reason we have this opportunity is because of the impact that Ireland has made over many years of connections with the US. The tradition of the St. Patrick's week engagement with the White House began very many years ago and is something we value greatly. It is something that would equally be valued by other countries, had they the opportunity to avail of it. Based on our ties of culture, tradition, literature, business, economics and politics, these are opportunities to review the progress being made in US-Irish relations and Irish-US relations. It allows us to raise the question of immigration and the undocumented Irish. The pressure is on in quite a number of areas. It also allows us to reflect on areas where we can work together. I believe that because of our particular connections with the US going back many years, holding the Presidency for these few months gives this Presidency on behalf of the EU a real opportunity to drive that agenda which, by conservative estimates, could result in over 2 million jobs over a period in Europe and raise the economies of the Union by between 2% to 3%, which would be a very welcome trend.

They are the general areas I hope to have the opportunity to discuss with the President and administration but by force of circumstance, I will not have the opportunity to get into the detail of all these issues although the issue of taxation in general will inevitably arise in those discussions when they commence.

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