Michael Noonan willing to level the playing field for corporate tax
The finance minister says he is willing to consider new proposals from the EU to level the playing field for corporate tax.
But Michael Noonan insists Ireland must retain a veto over the plans, and will not be prepared to give up its rate of 12.5%.
The European Commission is planning a new round of talks on a so-called 'consolidated corporate tax base', making it harder for multinational companies to avoid taxes in individual countries.
Michael Noonan says he is willing to help stop corporate tax avoidance, but Ireland will not be giving up its own independent tax system: "We've two red lines on that, one is that the fixing of rates will still be a matter for sovereign governments as it is under the treaties now and secondly, that any change will look our unanimity as it is now with tax matters, so apart from those two red lines we're prepared to negotiate in the space."
