Apple tax ruling to top agenda when Taoiseach meets Tim Cook

The Apple tax ruling will be top of the agenda when Taoiseach Enda Kenny meets with the head of the tech company in Silicon Valley.

The Taoiseach is to meet with Apple CEO Tim Cook at Infinite Loop in Cupertino today after travelling to the United States on a four-day trip.

He is also due to travel to New York and although a meeting with President-Elect Donald Trump is yet to be confirmed, it is understood that contact has been made with his team to arrange a meeting if schedules permit.

The Taoiseach and Mr Cook will discuss Apple’s current and planned investment and operations in Ireland, including the planned Athenry data centre.

However, it is expected that much of the meeting will focus on the EU Commission’s landmark ruling.

Following a three-year investigation, the EU ruled that the technology giant Apple owes Ireland €13bn in unpaid taxes over the past decade.

A spokesman for the Taoiseach said they would “take stock” of developments relating to the European Commission’s decision regarding Apple’s tax liability, including the State and the company’s appeals.

The Dáil voted to appeal the multi-billion euro ruling in September.

Apple have not yet lodged an appeal to the EU Commission ruling but it has until the end of the year to do so.

The Taoiseach will then travel to Facebook headquarters later this morning where in advance of his engagement with the Bay Area economic council, he will have the opportunity to meet with management and staff at the social media company.

Mr Kenny will spend tomorrow in New York where he will meet with and address business groups including the Partnership for New York City and a meeting of key business leaders hosted by Peter Grauer, chairman of Bloomberg.

He will meet a number of existing and potential investors in Ireland and attend the signing of a partnership between Enterprise Ireland and Northwell Healthcare Group, a leading US healthcare company.

Ahead of the trip Mr Kenny said: “My visit to the United States is a timely opportunity to engage with key business leaders to promote Ireland and highlight our strengths as a gateway for US firms into Europe and other global markets.

“In all engagements I will highlight our highly skilled workforce, our competitive tax offering and our focus on innovation as well as our strong commitment to EU membership.”