Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The wages on average in IDA companies in Ireland are much higher than elsewhere in the economy. Survivorship among multinational companies is as strong as it is in Irish companies although, obviously, markets change and there are pressures all of the time. Ireland's spend on Irish companies is actually much higher than it is in respect of multinationals. It is not one or the other, it is not either-or - we need both. Obviously, multinationals being here creates opportunities for niche contractors to supply services and goods to them, which is very important.

In respect of base erosion and profit shifting, we have been very much up-front about this. In the budget last October the Minister abolished the stateless concept. Clearly, there is an international issue here in respect of the digital world having moved very much ahead of the legislative world. That is why Ireland, among other countries of the European Council and the EU, has been very much up-front in working with the European Commission and the OECD to deal with this in an international way, so there is an international response to the issue. The different sectors are represented and the many committees are attended and contributed to by Ireland. We hope the OECD will bring forward its report during the summer and, as I have said, Ireland is very much up-front in wanting this matter to be dealt with in an international sense.

This is not about the rate of corporation tax. It is about the issue of tax in general.

See this speech in context