Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Finance if he has been in contact with the Northern Ireland Secretary for State, Theresa Villiers, recently regarding the corporate tax rate in Northern Ireland; if there will be any change in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45266/12]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Neither my department nor I have recently been in contact with Northern Ireland Secretary of State Theresa Villiers regarding their corporate tax rate, either formally or informally. The Northern Ireland Assembly is seeking a devolution of powers from HM Treasury for the imposition and collection of corporation tax. The Joint Ministerial working group examining the issues involved in devolving responsibility for the rate of corporation tax to the NI Executive has met on three occasions, most recently on 25 June 2012. I understand that the working group meets again in London on 18 October.

As the Deputy will be aware, taxation is a matter of national competence and the issues raised in the Joint Ministerial working group are first and foremost a matter for the UK Authorities.