European Commission may delay Apple tax ruling until after Christmas: Michael Noonan

The European Commission may not announce its ruling on Ireland and its tax dealings with Apple until after Christmas, Finance Minister Michael Noonan said yesterday.

Mr Noonan said yesterday’s jobs announcement for Apple’s Cork plant showed that the tech giant’s “enthusiasm” for Ireland had not waned “whatever the controversy there is around Apple’s tax status”.

Apple was “particularly important for the economy of Cork”, he said, adding that he hoped the tax issues would be resolved quickly as well.