Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There has been considerable coverage of the decision by Germany's Social Democratic Party, SDP, to place Ireland's corporation tax rate and its opposition to an EU financial transaction tax on the agenda of discussions being held in Berlin on the formation of a new coalition government. Corporation tax is a national competence and cannot be decided at EU level. This competence was clearly reaffirmed in both the Lisbon treaty and the fiscal treaty. The Tánaiste should deliver a clear message to the SPD that its posturing on the future of Ireland's corporation tax regime is unacceptable and should stop. He should reiterate in very strong terms that there will be no change in this regard.

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