Government to clamp down on tax avoidance - Bruton

The Minister for Jobs, Richard Bruton, said the Government is clamping down on companies that don't pay tax in any jurisdiction.

Bruton also said there will be a big push to market Ireland as an attractive location to set up a business.

"A change will be made in the Finance Bill to ensure that you don't have this problem of companies that have no tax home," he said.

"So we're dealing with that particular item, but in terms of the attractiveness of Ireland as a place to do business - Michael Noonan's tax strategy statement today makes it very clear that we will strongly maintain and defend our attractiveness.

"But we will ensure that competition is fair."

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan said there is no risk of high-profile companies leaving Ireland as a result.

"The companies that have set up here have an equal interest in the reputation of the country that we have as Irish people and as the Irish Government," Minister Noonan said.

"I don't expect any of them to leave - as a matter of fact, IO expect some of them expand, and that's their intention."