Taoiseach: 'We do not do special deals' on corporate tax

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said he will be making clear at a European Council meeting today that Ireland is not a tax haven.

Mr Kenny is attending a summit of EU leaders in Brussels where tax evasion and fraud are being discussed.

The meeting comes after the Apple Chief Executive, Tim Cook, told the US Senate his company had negotiated a 2% tax rate with the Irish Government.

However the Taoiseach, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and a number of other Ministers are rejecting the claim.

The Taoiseach, speaking in Brussels, insisted that Ireland does not do special tax rate deals with companies.

He said: "There's been quite a lot of media comment about Ireland in the last few days.

"I would like to repeat that Ireland's corporate tax rate is statute based, is very clear, is very transparent and we do not do special deals with any individual companies in regard to that tax rate."

The British Prime Minister David Cameron is also in Brussels and he said the EU has to be sure firms pay taxes, which he said requires "international collaboration and sharing of tax information".

Meanwhile, the British Labour party leader Ed Miliband has accused Google of going to "extraordinary lengths" to avoid paying taxes.