Childers calls for public debate on EU transaction tax proposal

A full public debate on whether Ireland should impose a €500m transaction tax on bankers and derivative trading is essential before the Government rejects the idea, Labour MEP Nessa Childers has said.

She was highly critical of a report on the issue released by the Government this week and on which they say they have based their current policy — which is to reject the tax unless all other countries agree.

Ms Childers said that the report, which was prepared by the ESRI three months ago, was “flawed and outdated”.