Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have no interest in Ireland being part of a race to the bottom. I want Ireland to have a tax code which is competitive and addresses issues which are part of the growing consensus on how taxes should be collected globally, and that is what we have. I reiterate that we have made many significant changes to date and are committed to making more. The foundations for making some of the additional changes have been laid down in the Finance Bill.

On the questions which have been put to me, it is possible that some of these practices are now being generated by companies comparing our tax code not only against jurisdictions which perhaps have no taxation systems at all but lower levels of taxation than we do in respect of corporate profitability.

On questions put to me directly, Deputy Boyd Barrett referred to the agreement in respect of Macau. It is only an information exchange.

On double taxation treatments, the broad point that should be made is that they are designed to make sure that activity is only taxed once but that it is taxed. The number of double taxation treatment treaties allow Irish companies to have economic activity abroad on which they pay taxes here in Ireland. That is a very valuable element of double taxation treatment.

I will meet Christian Aid.

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