Boxer wants open and transparent decision on Apple appeal

An Independent Alliance TD has indicated that he believes the group will support a Government move to appeal the European Commission judgement on Apple, once a number of issues are clarified.

“We have got to show that if multinational companies come in here, if they get into difficulty, we are here to protect them,” Deputy Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran told the Westmeath Independent this evening.

He said the Independent Alliance was seeking clarification on a number of issues surrounding the €13bn tax, which he said would alleviate many problems at a time when people were suffering.

Describing the controversy as “a very serious issue”, he said it was very damaging for the country’s reputation.

Boxer said the members of the Independent Alliance had heard Minister Eoghan Murphy indicate through the national media airwaves on Sunday that the Government would appeal any negative decision on the Apple issue.

“We are a partner in Government and we weren’t informed at all.”

As a consequence of Independent Alliance concerns, Minister for Finance Michael Noonan met with the group on Tuesday in advance of the announcement of the European Commission investigation.

“We told him that we were members in Government and that was not the way it should work.”

Boxer said although a Cabinet meeting had been ongoing all day, he could indicate that Independent Alliance would be seeking a recall of the Dail and was working on the wording of a motion to ensure that a similar situation regarding taxation would not occur again.

He said he wanted clarity too on whether the €13bn could be spent in advance of any court decision on an appeal by Apple.

The Independent Alliance was “led to believe that because Apple have appealed it” the €13bn could not be spent in the intervening period.

Boxer said he also wanted clarity as to the situation with other multinationals. He said Revenue had stressed that there were no special tax arrangements in place.

“If this had been the old Government, this would have just been railroaded through,” he pointed out.However, he said the Independent Alliance was not going to bring down the Government on the issue.

“Before we can sign off on the dotted line, we want to make sure that it’s open and transparent.”

A Government appeal of the EC decision would place the onus on the judge to decide.

Asked why the Government could not simply allow Apple to lodge that appeal on its own, he replied the Government had a duty to fight to protect its multinational base.“We want to protect what we have in the country and what might want to come in.”

“We have got to show that if multinational companies come in here, if they get into difficulty, we are here to protect them.'

Meanwhile this evening, the Government issued the following statement:

“The Government had a thorough discussion of the European Commission decision with regard to Apple, based on a Memorandum from the Minister for Finance proposing that Ireland lodge an appeal to that decision.
Cabinet received a detailed briefing from Minister Noonan.

Ministers also had an opportunity to examine the full text of the European Commission decision, which is a lengthy and complex document.

Following the discussion, it was agreed to adjourn the meeting to allow further time to reflect on the issues and to clarify a number of legal and technical issues with the AG’s Office and with officials.

The Government meeting will resume on Friday at 11am to make a decision on the matter.”