Michael D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am on the record of the House as saying that the ¤4 billion collected in corporation tax is ¤4 billion out of ¤44 billion of the total tax take for 2013. The firms which I assume the Department of Finance are hiring are the same firms that the corporations are hiring to tell them how not to pay the tax. The Department is hiring them to tell it how to get them to pay the tax. It is ironic that these are same four of five firms who specialise in taxation law. I have a concern that we are asking the citizens of the country to pay more. We have said we are at the upper limits on income tax, VAT and excise duties. The rate of corporation tax is 12.5%. I asked the Minister if it would be a case of scaring the horses if we were to consider raising the corporation tax rate. His answer was that it was better to leave it alone. I am happy to leave it alone if they pay the 12.5%. However, if they are not paying the 12.5% I think we should send a very clear message that we want to do the right thing. Leave it at 12.5% but pay the 12.5% and do not go beyond the beyond with what I think was called the Irish-Dutch double stepper---