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

It is not agreed. Again, the reason I am raising this is because it has not escaped our notice that there have been significant discussions in the US Senate about the Irish tax structure in so far as it relates to foreign direct investment, which is a key issue for employment creation in this country. There have been fairly lengthy discussions and debates, some very partisan, in the House of Commons in the UK in respect of our taxation structure. I am quite familiar with the practice of double taxation agreements with various countries across the globe, which are an essential part of our taxation structure. It appears, however, that the time has come for this House and Parliament to have a full debate on our taxation structure and full clarification of it, outlining in detail the degree to which the country complies with international tax norms and tax law and our basic strategy relating to corporate taxation and global movements, be they in the eurozone, the G20 or the international situation. We have not had such a debate in this Parliament for a very long time and it would be opportune if we could arrange one.

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