Minister Roche, speaking to the IBEC National Council, reiterates that Ireland’s corporate tax regime is not under threat in the EU Reform Treaty

Speaking today on the EU Reform Treaty to the IBEC National Council, the Minister for European Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche, T.D., stated:
“The Reform Treaty preserves the existing Treaty arrangements whereby taxation matters must be decided by unanimous vote.  Taxation matters are and will remain for decision by the Member States.  Any Member State can veto any proposal on taxation.

No proposals on a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base have been published by the European Commission.  Any proposal would require unanimous agreement to become community law. 
The assertions by the ‘No’ campaign that somehow or other Ireland is to lose its veto on taxation is false.  No Member State can be obliged against its will to change the rules on taxation under the Reform Treaty or indeed under any other Treaty.
On Foreign Direct Investment, Minister Roche stated:

“By any standards Ireland receives stunning levels of foreign direct investment.  Recent findings by the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU show that from 2000-2006 Ireland received far more direct US direct investment than China or India.  These findings illustrate the critical importance to Ireland’s future of staying at the very heart of Europe and of being seen to be doing just that.

We need to ask ourselves what message a no vote would send to the US board rooms where investment decisions are made. If we are seen to park Ireland in some Eurosceptic backwater what message will we be sending out?”

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Press Office
05/03/08