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

These are specific double taxation agreements which do not relate to the broader debate about international and global taxation models. However, I asked before the summer recess for a comprehensive debate, because there seems to be a determined effort to undermine Ireland's ability to have an independent taxation regime which is fully in compliance with international tax law. We cannot sort out the world on our own. I have witnessed over the years the prevarication on climate change and the global inability of countries to sign off on agreements designed to copperfasten a regime for dealing with climate change. How are we to anticipate that the same will not happen with regard to a very tight and equally applicable global taxation regime? If that is the case, we need to be careful about how we proceed. I remind the House that 166,000 people work in multinationals in Ireland.

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