Ireland will win Apple tax probe ‘quite easily’

Finance Minister Michael Noonan said the EU may have to abandon a state aid investigation into the nation’s tax arrangements for Apple.

In September, Apple’s agreements with Ireland were criticised as unfair by EU regulators who said the deals were improperly designed to give the iPhone maker a financial boost in exchange for jobs in the country.

“My legal advice is that the Irish authorities will win the case quite easily and that there isn’t a strong case,” Mr Noonan told reporters in Brussels. “I’m speculating here, but it’s the legal advice I have.”