Tánaiste defends tax system after Apple accused of using Ireland as tax haven

The Tánaiste has been defending Ireland's tax system after a US Senate report accused the iPhone makers Apple of using Ireland as a way of avoiding billions of euro in tax.

According to the report, a corporation tax rate of less than 2% was negotiated by the company with the Irish Government - that is far below the normal 12.5%.

Speaking on his way into a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels this morning, Eamon Gilmore said Ireland has a very transparent tax regime and that this case is not an issue for the Irish jurisdiction.

He said they are issues which arise from other jurisdictions and that the problem of international tax evasion loopholes needs to be addressed.

"It needs to be tackled by having robust international agreements and Ireland very much is in favour of that," he said.

"We have 69 tax agreements with different countries around the world, we are anxious to ensure through the European Union and through the OECD that there is a strong anti-tax avoidance regime in place."