Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for the rundown on the number and variety of Cabinet committees. Can he confirm which committee will discuss the implications of the Apple judgment? I assume it will be dealt with by the committee on economic recovery and investment.

The programme for Government commits to a commission on taxation and welfare. We in the Labour Party have repeatedly called for the establishment of a standing committee on taxation. We have also repeatedly called for a minimum effective corporation tax rate in the interests of tax and economic justice and fairness more generally. There are commitments in the programme for Government relating to tax reform, but many of them are, quite frankly, very weak on specifics. Can the Taoiseach confirm that a commission will be established that will identify in real time some of the abuses of the Irish tax system?

The truth is that many multinational corporations are way ahead of this Government and other governments internationally in the way in which they aggressively plan their tax affairs. Will the Taoiseach consider establishing a commission on taxation on a statutory standing basis to ensure that, in real time, we can understand the operations of large companies that aggressively plan their tax affairs? It is critical that is done in the interests of Irish taxpayers and citizens, as well as in the interests of fairness in this country and economy. It would ensure that we could respond in real time to some of the aggressive tax planning that goes on.

See this speech in context