Mr Coughlan’s confusion

IT is somewhat ironic that Anthony Coughlan objects to the Nice Treaty because the Government will not resist pressure to introduce a harmonised tax regime under enhanced co-operation.

Mr Coughlan’s thesis about harmonisation of taxes under enhanced co-operation is so full of holes, it is hard to know where to start. Given that Ireland has a low rate of corporation tax, other countries presumably would want to harmonise rates upwards. If several nation states did not go along with this, what would be the point in carrying it out?

The new article 43 of the treaty on the European Union outlines the specific safeguards in relation to states obtaining competitive advantage through the use of enhanced co-operation. The procedure must respect the single market and be consistent with the policies and existing laws of the union.