Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

117. To ask the Minister for Finance the current state of proposals for the implementation of a common consolidated tax base within the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55097/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

After nearly ten years of consultation, drafting, and discussion, on 16th March 2011 the European Commission published its proposal for a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB). This represented the beginning of a process that involves a detailed examination of the proposal, line by line, by all Member States at the Council working group. Since the Commission's proposal was published, Department of Finance officials, along with officials from the Revenue Commissioners, have been attending the Working Party on Tax Questions which is the forum for discussions on the proposal. To date, officials have attended meetings on a regular basis but there is still some way to go before agreement on the Commission's proposal could be expected.

In March 2013 the Irish Presidency circulated a "road map" paper following an orientation meeting of high level officials, setting out the next steps for discussions on the proposal. This roadmap will provide a context for the continuing discussions on the proposal. Work on the proposal is now focusing on a step-by-step approach. The first step will examine issues relating to a common tax base – consolidation can be examined at a later date.

The Irish Presidency also circulated compromise text which reflected the first round of discussions on the proposal. Further meetings took place under the Lithuanian Presidency.

Ireland’s position is that we are constructively engaging with the discussion.