Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ireland would be the fourth largest gross contributor to the corporate profits own resource after Germany, France and Italy, although we are a small member state in relative terms. At a political level, I set out my views at the July ECOFIN meeting and also put them directly to the EU budget Commissioner in May, when we met on the margins of the informal ECOFIN in Stockholm. In addition, my officials have had technical bilateral engagement with the relevant Commission experts in DG Budget on this file and have also provided technical input to the Spanish Presidency.

I can confirm that we are not alone in our concerns about the corporate profits own resource proposal. It is not for me to explicitly name or speak for other member states but, at a political level, at the ECOFIN in July and at official level since then, a number of other member states have either expressed opposition or scepticism about it. As the Deputy will be aware, this file requires the unanimous agreement of member states. At present, there is not the unanimity required to put this in place and I do not see there being such a situation in the period ahead. The majority of member states recognise there are many technical flaws in the Commission’s proposal and that much further scrutiny of the proposal is required. Other member states also share our concern at the disproportionate impact on corporate profits own resource on their national contribution.

We recognise the pressure the EU budget is under and Ireland will seek to be as constructive and supportive as we possibly can, but on this specific own resource proposal, our position is clear. We do not support it.

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