Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In response to the Minister of State, I want to ask him about these two US Senators who have made this statement that we are a tax haven. I would agree with him. I would have thought these are two mavericks who are having a go and being irresponsible. In that light, perhaps he could respond as to what is official United States policy about our corporate tax rate and corporate tax behaviour.

From memory, the US President, before he came to office, made part of his campaign slogan that he would force US companies to repatriate their profits and he singled out, targeted, fingered and named Ireland when he did so. Has that changed? Are we out of danger in that regard or is the pressure there still?

As a subsidiary to that, I note IDA Ireland is out there this week. Mr. Barry O'Leary went out immediately when this little episode broke. Would the Minister of State tell us whether the pressure from Europe to increase our corporate tax rate, which was so strong when the Taoiseach came to office and which the Taoiseach appears to have put off so successfully, is increasing again?

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