Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 38: To ask the Minister for Finance his understanding of France's position on Ireland's corporation tax. [14629/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Taxation in the European Treaties is a sovereign issue for Member States and taxation matters at a European level can only be decided on the basis of unanimity. For this reason, Ireland is aware of the attitude of other Member States, including France, to our corporation tax rate. Corporation tax policy is critical to the Irish economic growth model. The foreign-owned sector is currently the main source of growth in the Irish economy. One recent report ranked Ireland as the top creator of employment, relative to population size, from foreign direct investment.

I have had discussions with the French Finance Minister and sought to explain the Irish perspective and to understand the French position on this issue.