Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would take on board what Deputy Nash has said. I do not disagree with the Deputy's point. The participation in the BEPS process is an important process. Initially, the corporation tax rate was very important. There is no point in pretending it was not. The Deputy does not suggest that but, as a former Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, particularly on the life sciences front, many companies wanted certainty around our tax proposition and it was a competitive world in terms of tax offerings. The Deputy is absolutely correct that skills are equally important now in my view; the level and quality of our education system. I always remember Craig Barrett of Intel saying in his speech that three things are critical for any government: education, education, education. Fourth level, in terms of research, is vital now as well.

The BEPS process is key. There is a global issue around this in terms of governments having the wherewithal to fund services and underpin the social contract. That is key. That said, in Ireland, the corporation tax yield is going up and up, although there is a vulnerability in terms of the limited number of companies that account for a very large volume of the corporation tax receipts that come in. I certainly take the Deputy's point in relation to William Norton's historic role - a good man who made a good contribution to Irish public life.

In response to Deputy McDonald, the question is phrased in such a way as if I had full knowledge on 3 and 4 July, and I did not have full knowledge. I have stated repeatedly that Deputy Cowen was of a view and he took his own actions in relation to that. He did not have any document that weekend and I think it took the following week for him to get access to the document. I had a number of conversations throughout the period with the Deputies concerned and, as I said, this week I had a comprehensive engagement on the issue as well.

In terms of the fifth years, it is a fair point. Arrangements should be made to try to facilitate those students who have lost out so much this year in terms of their preparation for the leaving certificate next year. That will have to be kept under constant review as well because the possibility is that we will be living with Covid for quite some time; maybe not at the levels that occasioned the shutdown of the schools but we can never be too sure. We have to constantly devise new ways of helping and facilitating students through this difficult process.

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