Leader’s response on taxation
The Leader rejects claims that Ireland makes special tax-rate deals with companies and urges Senators to rely on the Government’s stated policy rather than unverified US allegations.
Senator Bacik also welcomed the Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill which will be discussed soon in the House.
Senator Barrett and the vast majority of Senators raised a report on comments made at US Senate sub-committee hearings about Apple and taxation. I want to make it clear, as the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Gilmore, and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, have said, that Ireland does not do special tax-rate deals with companies. That is the position. We do not have a special extra-low corporation tax for multinational companies. Ireland's tax system is statute based and there is no possibility of individual special tax-rate deals for companies. That is the clear position of the Government.
In addition, in December 2012, Ireland became one of the first countries in the world to sign an agreement with the United States to improve international tax compliance and implement the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act 2010. This type of agreement is now being hailed as an international standard for the automatic exchange of tax information.
That is the position as it stands. We have nothing to hide. There is total transparency on our corporate taxation system. Rather than-----
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They are jumping on the bandwagon.
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-----talking down the country and jumping to conclusions about US Senate sub-committee hearings, taking them as Gospel and making allegations,-----
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-----the sooner one looks at the exact position as it is, the better.
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Senator MacSharry spoke of Private Members' business and that will be dealt with this evening.
Senator Hayden raised the lack of obstetric funding in the health service. The health service has a very large budget. I will ask the Minister about funding for obstetric services.
As for Senator Healy Eames's point on questions regarding the Minister of State, Deputy White, I have no doubt as to his bona fides and the points she raised can be raised when that Bill comes before the House. Senator Daly stated "People who have made accusations against the Garda ... are being targeted by the Garda". That is an outrageous comment from a Member of this House. It is absolutely outrageous and constitutes an attack on the Garda and the work it does. Senator Daly should consider his statement and perhaps tomorrow he might withdraw that statement he has made to the House.