Apple 'not just here for the tax breaks', says Minister
A Government minister has today hit out at international criticism of Ireland's tax dealings with Apple.
The European Commission yesterday accused the country of negotiating two special deals with the company, which employs 4 thousand people in Cork.
It's alleging Ireland negotiated with Apple on how much of its profits would be taxed here.
Both the government and the technology giant have denied any wrongdoing.
Minister of State and Labour TD in Cork North Central Kathleen Lynch says finances are not the only reason Apple is doing business here.
"There are reason why Apple is in Ireland, and it's not solely taxation," she said.
"They talk about the flexibility of the workforce, they talk about university cities, and the type of sustained attack that we are under now from countries, really, that can't get their own acts together … you know, our corporation tax rate is not going to change and we are going to put up a vigorous defence of it."
