Trade Unionist attacks country's business elite

A leading trade unionist has told the country's business elite they should either pay Irish taxes or clear out of the country.

Senator Joe O'Toole has slammed the country's wealthiest businessmen, most of whom live abroad to avoid paying tax.

The incumbent president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions says Irish tax exiles are too selfish to pay taxes here like the rest of the country.

He was speaking at a conference of the Institute of Internal Auditors in Kilkenny.

Last night he targeted some of the richest men in the country by name - Michael Smurfit, Denis O'Brien, JP McManus and Tony O'Reilly - who for tax purposes are resident abroad.

Senator O'Toole said: "If people are too selfish to pay taxes on the same basis as the rest of us, they should get out of the country and stay out."