Politicians ‘afraid’ to quiz likes of Apple

A 2013 Dáil sub-committee investigation into Ireland’s multinational tax laws refused a request from Opposition TDs to bring in companies including Apple, Facebook, and Google as it was “paralysed by fear”.

People before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett made the claim after the Government last week agreed to instigate a review of major corporations’ tax bills as part of its compromise deal to appeal the European Commission’s €13bn Apple tax ruling.

Mr Boyd Barrett told the Irish Examiner a similar review by the Department of Finance sub-committee on global taxation was hamstrung by a refusal to question major corporations.