Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will be very brief. I will not repeat the points my colleagues have made.

I have some questions for the Minister. Was a special deal done between the State and Apple? The chief financial executive of Apple said to US politicians:

Since the early 1990s the government of Ireland has calculated Apple's taxable income in such a way as to produce an effective rate in the low single digits. The rate has varied from year to year, but since 2003 has been 2% or less.

In 2009 and 2010 it paid less than 1% in tax and in 2011 it paid 0.05%. The Minister has said the answer is "No", so why did the chief financial executive say what he said? It is simple question. It seems very odd. Was he having a bad day? Was he on some kind of recreational drugs at that point?

The Minister said, "We have a proven track record in international tax reform and a strong commitment to meeting the best international standards." Is the Minister having a laugh? The world and its wife knows that we have been a haven regarding tax and tax avoidance for years. The Apple tax deal is evidence of this. The Minister does not have to take my word for it; that is what the chief financial executive of Apple had to say.