Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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515. To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department is working on setting up a double taxation agreement with Brazil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45250/25]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Ireland is focused on supporting and enhancing its economic relationship with Brazil to the greatest extent possible. Brazil is a valued and important trading partner for Ireland with whom we have an extensive two-way relationship in terms of people, business and diplomatic ties. Several Irish companies have based their Latin American headquarters in Brazil.

Ireland's longstanding tax treaty policy has been to expand, maintain, and enhance Ireland's tax treaty network to remove barriers and facilitate trade and investment opportunities between Ireland and partner jurisdictions.

Tax treaties provide greater certainty and fairness for taxpayers regarding their tax obligations in foreign jurisdictions, and they are key to the prevention of double taxation. Furthermore, they provide for dispute resolution mechanisms and the exchange of taxpayer information to enhance tax transparency.

In June 2022, the Department of Finance published Ireland's tax treaty policy statement. The published policy statement sets out the broad parameters of Ireland's policy based on two central themes – consideration for Ireland's economy and trade, and recognition that different considerations apply to tax treaties with developing countries.

The priority, as per our Tax Treaty Policy statement, is to conclude treaties with other G20 members, OECD and EU members, and accession states, as well as to update existing treaties.

Officials in the Department of Finance are working to progress this policy statement, and a tax treaty with Brazil fits in with this aim. It is acknowledged that stakeholder feedback received during the development of the policy statement pointed to the need for greater expansion of our tax treaty network in the Latin American region.

It is Ireland's policy to treat plans or negotiations for tax treaties as confidential until they are signed, at which point they are published on Revenue's website. This is standard practice for most jurisdictions, which respects the confidential nature of the negotiation process.