Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Apple is a very important employer in Ireland, particularly in the Cork region, and extremely important to the economy. Was it the Taoiseach's office or the Office of the Ceann Comhairle which was responsible for the rather delicate wording of the question, namely, "To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with a person (details supplied)", the person obviously being Mr. Tim Cook of Apple? I would have thought he was world famous and entitled to his name, even in the wording of the question. Someone who is a private citizen falls into a different category.

The Taoiseach mentioned the European Commission's judgment. Why has the tax payment which is being made into the escrow account - I assume it is the full €13 billion, but the Taoiseach might enlighten us in that regard - not included in the Exchequer returns? Many tax payments are made by businesses to the Revenue Commissioners where the final tax liability is in dispute; however, they are included in the normal Exchequer returns. There can be a corresponding note if it is expected that they might be paid to somebody else or not held. Why has there been a departure from a strong tradition in the publishing of Exchequer returns in this case?

Apple is among several significant companies that are being used in citing Ireland as a tax haven. During the years, I have participated in extensive discussions with the OECD on tax reform. I am very concerned that the goodwill towards Ireland is being diluted by constant references in different reports, among them, the Panama Papers, the Luxembourg Leaks, the Commission's report on the Apple tax issues and Wikileaks, all of which cite Ireland.

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