Let the tax exiles support Irish aid

Following deliberations by the Oireachtas Sub-committee on Finance last week on the subject of philanthropy, Minister Noonan has promptly declared that a proposition to extend the right of multimillionaire tax exiles to reside in Ireland for up to 244 days per year, without any further liability to Irish taxation, “attractive”, if they were to buy this right in the form of philanthropic payments of €15m to unspecified charities over a period of 10 years.

It is odd that he should find this attractive at a time when the State is waging a relentless and intensive public relations war across the globe to persuade a sceptical public that Ireland is not an easy touch when it comes to tax avoidance following the Apple Corporation tax controversy and the deliberations of the G8 leaders in Enniskillen on enhanced international tax transparency.

Apart from that, such a proposition could only have potential merit in Ireland if it is clearly seen to benefit society as whole — those that reside in the country, without reservation and diligently serve the national interest, for up to 52 weeks and not merely 34 weeks.