Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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197. To ask the Minister for Finance in view of the European Commission's investigation into the favourable tax treatment provided by Belgium to multinational companies (details supplied), if his Department has assessed the impact this investigation could have on similar tax breaks, and concessions, to multinationals here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8881/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Last year, the Competition Directorate of the European Commission opened formal state aid investigations into tax rulings provided to a number of companies in various Member States of the European Union.  In the case of Ireland, the company concerned was Apple.

The investigations are part of a much wider review of tax ruling practices that is currently being undertaken by the European Commission and recently the Commission announced that it was broadening its enquiries to include all Member States. 

The investigation that has been launched that relates to Belgium is a matter for the Belgian authorities, and the Deputy will be aware that as a rule we do not comment on the tax regimes of other jurisdictions.

In terms of whether the outcome of the Belgian case could have any impact on the Irish tax regime more generally, I understand that there is no provision in our tax code that is similar to the Belgian regime that is being investigated.

In respect of the current Irish investigation, I remain confident that there was no breach of State aid rules and that the Irish legislative provisions were correctly applied.