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

Companies in Ireland are mainly taxed at the standard corporation tax rate of 12.5%. Different methodologies are used and while some of them lead to different claims regarding our tax rate, it is important to look at recent work done by the Revenue Commissioners, which published an updated analysis of returns filed in 2018. They noted that the effective rate of tax paid by all companies in Ireland is 10.6%, while it is 11.3% for the top ten companies and 10.8% for the top 100. It is important to put those facts on the record of the House because those are the effective rates of taxation for companies in Ireland, as published by our own Revenue Commissioners. As the Deputy acknowledged, this tallies with the work of the OECD, which found we have an effective tax rate of approximately 12%, which is in line with our nominal tax rate of 12.5%.

As for Deputy Doherty's further question, I am going to be studying carefully what Commissioner Gentiloni published yesterday, though the formal communication of the detail of his statement has not reached Ireland as of yet. Looking at how decision-making processes work in respect of taxation is an initiative which has been pursued at other points. I continue to be of the view that taxation is a matter that must be dealt with by unanimity in the European Union but I am aware of the ongoing debate on the taxation of global companies. I do not often get the chance to point to the kind of change we have made in the past but I might be able to do it later on. Change is coming. It is going to matter for Ireland and we need to ensure it is as fair as possible for our country.

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