Irish ministers want multinational taxes reviewed before appealing EU ruling

A group of independent lawmakers in Ireland’s government want their coalition partners to commit to reviewing how tax is collected from multinationals before it considers appealing an EU ruling against tax dealings with Apple. Ireland’s cabinet failed to agree on Wednesday whether to accept a recommendation by Finance Minister Michael Noonan to appeal the European Commission’s order this week that it recover 13 billion euros in back taxes ruled to be illegal state aid. The Independent Alliance, a group of five lawmakers whose support is crucial to the minority government’s survival, wanted more time to consult with tax officials and independent experts, and the government said a decision would be made on Friday. “I don’t think Apple have paid sufficient tax. I don’t think they’ve been illegal in what they’ve done, it’s the tax system as it’s set up,” John Halligan, an Independent Alliance junior minister who does not sit at cabinet, told Ireland’s RTE. “The Independent Alliance have asked that we review our intake of tax, how we take tax in from multinationals and (assess) are we collecting fair tax. I don’t think the multinationals should be afraid of that.” Halligan, a former member of the left-wing Workers’ Party, said parliament should also be recalled to debate the issue but that this did not necessarily have to happen before the cabinet makes its decision. He also said it was important to tell voters that given Apple intended to appeal the ruling, the 13 billion euros would sit in an escrow account for a number of years and there would therefore be “no immediate bonanza” for taxpayers. If the Independent Alliance refused to back an appeal and pulled out of the government, Prime Minister Enda Kenny’s government would likely fall. Halligan played down that prospect. Reuters