TIME FOR BIG COMPANIES TO PAY FAIR SHARE OF TAX, SAYS TD

Responding to the comments from the head of the OECD on Ireland’s corporation tax today Sinn Féin finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty said he welcomes the establishment of a sub-committee of the Oireachtas Finance Committee to look at the issues of multinational companies and the tax they pay in Ireland.

Deputy Doherty said: “Ireland is in firing line on business tax from America, Europe, Australia and OECD. It is now seven months since I asked the Finance Committee to examine this issue. I welcome the fact that that is now being done through the establishment of a sub-committee.

“There is no excuse for big companies like Apple to not pay a fair share of tax. International cooperation is important but there is no reason why the government cannot act to ensure the agreed rate is being paid.

“Sinn Féin is looking at all of the loopholes used to avoid paying tax in Ireland and we will be publishing a bill to close one of these loopholes shortly.”