David Norris (Independent)

Everybody can bask in the notion that the country is kept afloat by multinationals but, as I pointed out on the Order of Business recently, having taken the idea from Professor Anton Murphy of Trinity College, approximately half a dozen companies in our wonderful financial services centre — long may it continue to flourish — have only five employees but their turnover is twice the income of Luxembourg. This is money laundering. The State soaks them for 12.5% of their profit but those in charge should get out their wellies and souwesters because a storm will break and when another country offers a corporation tax rate of 12% or 11.5%, off they will go. We had better be prepared for that.

Multinationals, lamentably, have more power than national sovereign governments and they almost always behave despicably. That is why I spit the word out and I am definitely effete even though I shout I like an enraged bull. I am effete and proud of it. I am also a lefty pinko. I was told that by no less than our mutual friend, Kader Asmal, and coming from him, it was the greatest compliment I ever received in my life. Myself and Deputy Michael D. Higgins are two old lefty pinkos. I am an effete lefty pinko and I was part of the commentariat as well for a period.