Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The recently released Paradise Papers and, before them, the Panama Papers tell a shocking story of the world's wealthiest companies and individuals using secretive offshore tax havens to shelter their wealth from the legitimate tax demands of tax authorities across the world. Ireland's name features in all this, which, like Robin Hood in reverse, seeks to rob the poor, the working class and the middle class to create a tax-free globe for the rich and mighty, both corporate and personal. The newspapers, including The Irish Timesand The Guardian in the UK, that have supported the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, ICIJ, in publishing this information are to be congratulated even if what they have to say is disturbing.

The Paradise Papers and Panama Papers show that these arrangements and structures are the enemy of a flourishing, open democracy. The secrecy that is the core asset and principle of tax havens, as well as their no-tax status, is the greatest threat to countries such as Ireland and other EU member states. It is also probably a critical factor in the creation of a global elite of oligarchs, billionaires, multimillionaires and companies that are outside of normal taxation. This is one of the scandals of our age. Its consequences in terms of undermining the kind of open and flourishing democracy that we all aspire to are frightening.

What is the Minister going to do about this in terms of Ireland's reputation, which risks being shredded, and what actions will he take? When I was a member of the previous Government, the Labour Party in particular sought to include Ireland fully in the OECD process. That stands to us now as we face the difficulties of Brexit. However, I hear a deafening silence from Fine Gael in particular, but also from the Independent Alliance, regarding the scandal of international taxation.

Multimillionaires in Ireland can park their recently-purchased jets for an hour or two in the Isle of Man, thereby cheating the Revenue and Irish taxpayer of the VAT that would be due on such a luxury product, and the Minister has his hands up and open and has nothing to say about it. I realise the Minister of State who is to respond is not personally in charge of this area but all I can say is that we are fooling ourselves.

As the United Kingdom is leaving the European Union, we must address this area. We only want people to pay their fair share of taxation. We do not want particularly punitive tax rates. Why are people in ordinary jobs in Ireland, including civil and public servants and those in private businesses, paying quite a lot of tax while other people are flying in on jets or sailing in on yachts, having spent two hours in the Isle of Man? They are not even contributing VAT.

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