The co-founder of a US technology giant which used its Irish subsidiaries to lower its tax bill has said big corporations should be treated the same as the “little guy”.

Tasoieach Enda Kenny has brushed off attacks on Ireland’s tax regime for helping multinationals avoid billions in tax – insisting he was backing plans for global tax transparency and an end to tax havens.

David Cameron will step up the campaign against tax evasion and “aggressive” tax avoidance as Apple joins multinational corporations in the spotlight.