Taoiseach hits out at ECJ Apple tax referral

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has called the referral of Ireland to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) over the Apple tax issue “wholly unnecessary” and “unwarranted”.

Speaking in the Dáil, he said: “We profoundly disagree with the commission’s interpretation of state aid rules. It is our view that tax is a national competence. It is a matter for this parliament — not a European matter. This is already on appeal to the ECJ.”

He said in the meantime, the Government was making arrangements to collect the €13bn from Apple.