Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question and thank him for his very kind comments. This issue was raised by Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan in her contribution. It goes back to the issue of tax justice on which many people have been campaigning for many years. I should say that I worked for a multinational company before I got into political life. I think we must be balanced and accurate in how we talk about their role within our economy and the economies of other countries, as Deputy Lawlor has been. In respect of the role of multinationals within the developing world, what we have already said through our involvement in many organisations like the OECD and the work we are doing across the European Union is that we support all efforts that are made in respect of increasing tax transparency and making sure the activities in which any multinational company is involved or the decisions it makes are not to the detriment of the natural jurisdictions within which it operates or the ability of these countries to govern themselves in the future.

I am very much aware that the potential lost resource that could be coming out of these economies is in many cases greater than the development aid and support that is going into them. Ireland has made very clear that we have a long-standing commitment to development aid and a clear appreciation of the role of tax transparency and ensuring people pay the right tax in the right place to the right people. I will certainly ensure the points made by the Deputy are passed on to the right people within my Department and again assure him that in my participation in the Foreign Affairs Council, I will certainly raise those points. I will conclude by saying that they are very much infused by the short amount of time I spent in a country grappling with many of those challenges, as I know Deputy Lawlor has done as well. I know the value in supporting those countries on their way towards getting the right tax revenue and right kind of governance for themselves.

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