Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We are on the same page as the Minister on the issue of tax sovereignty. I fundamentally disagree with the way he and his predecessor provide loophole after loophole to allow multinationals to avoid paying their appropriate tax rate, which is 12.5%. We agree with the Minister on the issue of tax sovereignty. We need to have a concentrated campaign. We had two rapporteurs, people in senior positions in the European Parliament, before the committee. Neither knew that Ireland had three corporation tax rates. There was complete ignorance. They have written reports without knowing it. We are not informing the people who are in the middle of making decisions. I understand that the Minister of State, Deputy D'Arcy, met them. If I am misinformed, maybe the Minister of State can correct the record. They put on the record of the committee that the Minister of State told their members that the instruction given to the officials was not to engage. They have never requested the floor of the meeting. It is important to clear that up. We are on the same hymn sheet on this issue and we now have to have a proper campaign. The Minister needs to clean up his backyard for us to mount that campaign properly.

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