Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In Sinn Féin's view, in order to achieve a real, sustainable, competitive advantage, the cost of doing business must not be prohibitive. I refer to utility costs which are higher in Ireland than the average in the rest of Europe, such as waste management and water costs. There is a need to provide an educated society so we can attract jobs but funding is being pulled out of the education system. Broadband infrastructure is needed to allow companies to communicate. These elements are necessary to create long-term competitive advantages which will attract jobs to this country. Unfortunately, Ireland is regarded internationally as a tax haven by gaining competitive advantage in foreign direct investment on the basis of a very low tax base. Will the Minister give his views on the suggestion that Ireland's reputation has been damaged, as seen in the evidence given under oath by a senior Apple executive that a deal was done between his company and this State to confer tax advantages on his company?

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