Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. He has opened the door a bit further, for which I am grateful. The evidence is clear that the multinationals are the main contributors to the extraordinary spike in corporate tax. The Minister should be worried about the effect of the contribution of multinationals which is making such a significant and material difference to the returns to the Exchequer. I am interested in hearing his view. I wonder is he worried that multinationals may make an enormous and artificial difference to the returns coming to the Exchequer because of their extraordinary ways of creating, manoeuvring and manipulating their profits. The Minister referred to it when he talked about intellectual property offshore. They can have a disproportionate effect on the returns of the Exchequer and the deficit. Does the Minister regard this as a significant development and one he should tackle in a particularly material way?

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