Being a responsible citizen….the Irish way

How Did Ireland Become a Tax Haven?

Ireland became a tax haven through deliberate government policies aimed at attracting multinational corporations. These policies, combined with EU membership and a favorable business environment, turned Ireland into one of the world’s most attractive destinations for corporate tax avoidance. Here’s how it happened:

1. Low Corporate Tax Rate (Since 1990s):

   • Ireland set its corporate tax rate at 12.5%, significantly lower than many other developed nations (e.g., the U.S. was 35% before tax reforms).
   • This made Ireland highly attractive for multinational corporations looking to reduce their tax bills.

2. "Double Irish" Tax Loophole (1990s–2020):

   • This allowed companies to route profits through two Irish subsidiaries to avoid taxes.
   • Tech giants like Apple, Google, Facebook (Meta), and Microsoft used this strategy to shift billions in profits to tax-free jurisdictions.
   • The loophole was eventually closed in 2020 under international pressure, but companies had grace periods to adjust.

3. Favorable Intellectual Property (IP) Tax Rules:

   • Ireland introduced tax incentives for companies that hold intellectual property (IP), letting firms write off almost all of their taxable income.
   • This encouraged corporations to register patents, trademarks, and other IPs in Ireland while operating globally.

4. EU Membership and Trade Agreements:

   • Being part of the European Union (EU) provided businesses in Ireland with access to the EU single market.
   • Companies could establish their headquarters in Ireland and enjoy tax benefits while legally operating across Europe.

5. Skilled Workforce & Business-Friendly Environment:

   • Ireland invested heavily in education and tech infrastructure, creating a skilled, English-speaking workforce.
   • The Irish government has also actively courted foreign direct investment (FDI) with pro-business policies.

How Does Ireland Benefit?

Ireland benefits in multiple ways from its status as a tax haven:

1. Massive Foreign Investment & Job Creation:

   • Many of the world's largest corporations—including Apple, Google, Microsoft, Pfizer, and Meta—have established their European headquarters in Ireland.
   • This has created thousands of high-paying jobs and boosted the local economy.

2. Higher Tax Revenue Despite Low Rates:

   • Even with a low 12.5% tax rate, Ireland collects significant tax revenue from multinationals.
   • In 2022, corporate tax receipts hit €22.6 billion, making up nearly one-third of Ireland’s total tax revenue.

3. Economic Growth & High GDP Per Capita:

   • Ireland’s GDP per capita is among the highest in Europe, largely inflated by corporate tax strategies.
   • In 2022, Ireland’s economy grew by 12.2%, driven largely by multinational activity.

4. Tech & Pharma Hub Status:

   • Ireland has become a global tech and pharmaceutical hub, with companies like Apple, Google, and Pfizer making Ireland their base for European operations.
   • This has led to the development of research and innovation centers in the country.

Challenges & Criticism

• Pressure from the EU & OECD: Ireland has faced criticism for enabling corporate tax avoidance, leading to global efforts to introduce a minimum 15% corporate tax rate (OECD Global Tax Deal).
• Artificially Inflated Economy: Much of Ireland’s GDP is due to corporate tax strategies, which does not reflect real domestic economic activity.
• Risk of Corporate Relocation: If tax laws become less favorable, some companies may relocate to other jurisdictions with competitive tax policies.

Irish Tax Derangement Syndrome (ITDS), for when your get angry debating an Irish person on a completely unrelated topic but don't have any coherent argument to fall back on.

No country has benefited more from globalisation than Ireland. 

No country has benefited more from globalisation than Ireland. 

Not quite.

Pressure from the EU & OECD: Ireland has faced criticism for enabling corporate tax avoidance, leading to global efforts to introduce a minimum 15% corporate tax rate (OECD Global Tax Deal).

Yeah a minimum global corporate tax rate of 15% will be a major step towards ensuring a level playing field and its something that has been talked about for many years by many countries. Turns out Biden got an agreement in 2021 with nearly 140 countries and came into effect in January 2024, in the EU/UK/Japan/Canada with plans for a broader implementati...aaaaaaand Trump has pulled America out it effectively killing the concept of a global minimum corporate tax rate.

I find it curious that you adopt the moral high ground with such enthusiasm  but never a word about the activities of your own rogue country. But nice touch using Trump as an excuse….ten out of ten. ROFLA!

@Stav, I am not sure what that report you provided relates to. (it seems more like Demographics, than tax theft). 

Yes, Sweden is also a bastard for stealing personal tax but the Irish are far worse.
Tax goes to building schools, hospitals, roads, defence, etc, etc. It is an abomination that Ireland is helping itself to other countries' tax money. 

Ireland had a headline rate of 12.5%, but Ireland only charges about 1%..... 
So it does not matter if the global standard is 15%, Ireland will just find other ways not to pay the 15% - and instead, just take 1%. 

This has been my main criticism of the EU. One of the main reasons the EU single market was created was to compete with America. Yet, Ireland's bread and butter is our tax money- and they are totally aligned with America. There should be a minimum tax rate for EU membership. 

Why allow a member to undercut the other members so they can live off other countries' tax money? If the UK does rejoin the EU, I believe Ireland must be thrown out if they don't agree to have a flat line tax rate, and in fact, refrain from invoicing other county's sales. 

I deal with a lot of American companies and have to get quotes/invoices from Dublin to send to the customer. I notice that they all include the Dublin address. So Ireland is still not honouring the global agreement of invoicing being done in the local country of sales, instead of Dublin. Ireland had no intention of following the global tax agreement. I do see Trump has his eyes set on Dublin though...

I have heard that employee tax in Ireland is extremely high. It starts at 22%, and jumps to 44%. That is not business-friendly to smaller Irish businesses, as it appears the employee tax system is dumping taxes onto employees in order to pass on even more tax savings to the US corporations. 

I saw the Irish government were complaining about DeepSeek, but are they just lapdogs to US Big Tech and trying to create negative press about a company that is not American (With an Irish operation).

Yes, Sweden is also a bastard for stealing personal tax but the Irish are far worse.
Tax goes to building schools, hospitals, roads, defence, etc, etc. It is an abomination that Ireland is helping itself to other countries' tax money. 

Emmm. Hate to break it to you.

Ireland had a headline rate of 12.5%, but Ireland only charges about 1%..... 
So it does not matter if the global standard is 15%, Ireland will just find other ways not to pay the 15% - and instead, just take 1%. 

Fair criticism, Ireland is gaming the system and I believe its even less than 1%.

This has been my main criticism of the EU. One of the main reasons the EU single market was created was to compete with America.

No it wasn't.

Yet, Ireland's bread and butter is our tax money- and they are totally aligned with America. There should be a minimum tax rate for EU membership.

Well its true that Ireland has traditionally been more inline with America economics than European. But I'm not sure why your anger is directed at us in particular rather than than looking internally at the UK which is by far the worst offender or the Netherlands who are worse for it in the EU than we are.

Why allow a member to undercut the other members so they can live off other countries' tax money? If the UK does rejoin the EU, I believe Ireland must be thrown out if they don't agree to have a flat line tax rate, and in fact, refrain from invoicing other county's sales. 

From the chart we see the Netherlands comes in 7th place on the list for biggest enabler of Tax abuse, the worst in the EU. Ireland is 9th. Luxembourg is 10th. Cyprus is 14th.

Do all 4 members have to leave the EU sate to accommodate the UK which is currently ranked 18th an improvement on 13th where the UK was 5 years ago.

But of course lets look who's 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 12th and 13th, why its the UK's overseas territories. This is not to mention other over sea's territories that show up lower down on the list.

Of the $492 billion annually lost to tax abuse globally the UK and its overseas territories account for one third of it.

The UK 100% absolutely has the power to clamp down on the abuse both at home and in its overseas territories and has had that power for decades and chosen not to do so. Its sheer hypocrisy for the UK to criticize other countries when its the biggest pirate island around.

I deal with a lot of American companies and have to get quotes/invoices from Dublin to send to the customer. I notice that they all include the Dublin address. So Ireland is still not honouring the global agreement of invoicing being done in the local country of sales, instead of Dublin. Ireland had no intention of following the global tax agreement.

LOL that's not an indication of anything. Since the UK has left the EU hundreds of companies have relocated out of the UK all across Europe. Ireland being the number destination with Dublin alone picking 135 of these relocating companies.

Lets say Ireland's tax system has cost the UK billions over the year. I've seen estimate that Ireland's tax arrangements mean around $10 billion a year of tax goes to Ireland a year when it should really be going to other countries. That's from around the world. The UK would just be a part of that. So lets say over the period 1990-2020 Ireland cost the UK over $20 billion in tax. 

Brexit is costing the UK almost €50 billion a year. Like you have brought up Ireland's tax arrangements before as justification for Brexit (despite no one actually campaigning for Brexit on that). What your saying is that a solution to a pick pocket is to blow off your own two legs.

And we haven't even got to Liss Truss's mini budget obliterating over $526 billion dollars of UK pension funds.

I've no idea why you are focusing on Ireland , when the UK is way worse for enabling tax abuse

You should be kicking down the doors of the people who brought you Brexit and the people who governed the UK for the last 14 years. 

I do see Trump has his eyes set on Dublin though...

Well yes, there is a Trump threat here to Ireland, but its not specifically about tax abuse which ironically he might be more of enabler of. More to do with Ireland's trade surplus with America. I suspect Ireland will be hit more as part of Trump's policies towards the EU as opposed to Ireland on its own. Wouldn't make sense to single out one European country on its own because the EU will respond as a single block in response. Ireland also exports a lot of pharmaceuticals to the US, so in affect America would be taxing its own medical supplies.

I have heard that employee tax in Ireland is extremely high. It starts at 22%, and jumps to 44%. That is not business-friendly to smaller Irish businesses, as it appears the employee tax system is dumping taxes onto employees in order to pass on even more tax savings to the US corporations. 

Close but not quite accurate, its 20% and 40%. Well you can argue the pro's and con's have high and low tax rates, but from all the reports I'm reading SME's are doing fairly well in Ireland, but I'm sure if you were to ask them they would always reply we should be doing better. 

I saw the Irish government were complaining about DeepSeek, but are they just lapdogs to US Big Tech and trying to create negative press about a company that is not American (With an Irish operation).

So you have no issues with your data being obtained and stored by the Chinese? 

This from Chat might help you understand the evasion issue Anger:

’‘While both Ireland and the UK have roles in the global tax landscape, Ireland's policies and economic indicators suggest a more significant contribution to facilitating tax avoidance strategies. The UK's proactive measures indicate a commitment to mitigating tax evasion, though challenges remain.“

Ireland promotes evasion, the UK makes some effort to deal with it, but not enough. The UK being a larger economy, may be the bigger culprit. But in terms of dishonest intent Chat rates Ireland the clear winner. Shameful stuff.

Stav, I simply do not believe those numbers. Big Tech are the largest companies in the world - and the US companies that are doing the most international business. 

I can't see how it is possible for the UK with its much smaller economy and companies vs the US can be doing more corporate tax fraud than Ireland with Big Tech. It is just not possible because the international sales of Big Tech make up more than the whole of the UK economy. 

Where the UK is doing tax fraud against its own people, or at least when compared to the Irish. 
The Canadian Islands is an offshore haven for rich people in the UK to avoid paying tax here in the UK.
Of course, I do not support it, but still do not see this as a reason to justify Ireland being the world tax centre. 

The global tax agreement was designed against Ireland. It may as well be called the Stop Ireland Stealing Agreement. 

Yet, Ireland continues to invoice UK businesses with an Irish address- so they can continue to steal our tax. They are declaring UK sales as Irish sales. Why else is an Irish address on the invoice? 

If the situation was in reverse and another European or any country was stealing the tax of Ireland, the Irish would be the first ones up in arms.
The double Irish tax sums it up....

I have heard that 90% of Ireland's revenue is from US corporations pushing global sales through Ireland. 
They even take US Sales and Intellectual property of the US companies, which should be going to the American tax payer - not Ireland.

This from Chat might help you understand the evasion issue Anger:

’‘While both Ireland and the UK have roles in the global tax landscape, Ireland's policies and economic indicators suggest a more significant contribution to facilitating tax avoidance strategies. The UK's proactive measures indicate a commitment to mitigating tax evasion, though challenges remain.“

Ireland promotes evasion, the UK makes some effort to deal with it, but not enough. The UK being a larger economy, may be the bigger culprit. But in terms of dishonest intent Chat rates Ireland the clear winner. Shameful stuff.

Lets have a look at the Financial Secrecy Index which is a ranking of jurisdictions most complicit in helping individuals to hide their finances from the rule of law.

Financial<br>Secrecy Index<br>2022

Oh my hello Uncle Sam, what you doing up in the number one spot. And here is me just criticizing the US for enabling genocide and withholding aid to the worlds most vulnerable people and acting like an economic bully, I didn't even realize you were the most complicit country in the world for enabling tax evasion. Shameful stuff indeed.

Stav, I simply do not believe those numbers.

Well that's convenient. Come on Shark don't be like the others on here who pick and choose their reality.

I can't see how it is possible for the UK with its much smaller economy and companies vs the US can be doing more corporate tax fraud than Ireland with Big Tech. It is just not possible because the international sales of Big Tech make up more than the whole of the UK economy. 

What's international sales got to do with Ireland. Tax's from other EU countries are whats affected by Irelands tax set up, but there is still a very large international market outside the EU. 

Ireland's tax system is questionable in that it redirects tax from other EU member states and the US to itself or allows various American tech companies to avoid paying taxes at all.

The UK and its overseas territories have for a long time been enablers of tax evasion for the entire globe, and not just the tech sector, every sector and walk of life, including criminals and countries that need to launder their dirty money like Russia.

Where the UK is doing tax fraud is against its own people. The Canadian Islands is an offshore haven for rich people in the UK to avoid paying tax here in the UK.
Of course, I do not support it,

Simply not true. According to a report by the Tax Justice Network in November. The UK and its oversea's territories enabled $129 billion worth of tax abuse. The UK itself lost out on $45 billion worth of taxes. Even if you where to assume that was all lost by what the UK enabled (which is certainly not the case) that would have meant the UK depriving other countries around the world of at least if not substantially more than $84 billion dollars last year.

But aside from that even if it were true that the UK was committing fraud against its own people tax abuse is tax abuse, be it the UK doing it to themselves, or Ireland doing it to the UK is the same thing, at the end of the day its tax lost and as you put it that could of gone to building schools, hospitals, roads, defence, etc, etc

but still do not see this as a reason to justify Ireland being the world tax centre. 

Criticize us all you want, but look in the mirror first and don't exaggerate.

The global tax agreement was designed against Ireland. It may as well be called the Stop Ireland Stealing Agreement. 

LOL, we signed up to it. The UK didn't.

Yet, Ireland continues to invoice UK businesses with an Irish address- so they can continue to steal our tax. They are declaring UK sales as Irish sales. Why else is an Irish address on the invoice? 

What the absolute f**k.

So UK businesses can't set up and operate in Ireland?

Over a hundred companies relocated to Ireland from the UK after Brexit and hundreds more to other European countries simply because it allows for the company to operate inside the EU easier then when they are based in the UK. It was even the British governments official recommendation to UK business to get around the layers of red tape Brexit created. Set up inside the EU.

If the situation was in reverse and another European or any country was stealing the tax of Ireland, the Irish would be the first ones up in arms.

At this point your obviously just looking for a reason to try to justify Brexit, but the UK complaining about Irelands tax set up is a joke given the UK's record.

Now let’s see, the Financial Security Index is compiled where? Oh, in the UK and when we look at the top 10 ‘offenders’, the UK which you castigated above isn’t even listed. Oops there!

And then there’s this:

Limitations of the Financial Secrecy Index

1. Does Not Measure Actual Tax Evasion

   • The FSI ranks potential secrecy risk but does not quantify how much tax revenue is lost per country.

2. Heavily Weights Financial Secrecy, Not Tax Rates

   • A country with low corporate taxes (like Ireland) may not rank high unless it also has strong secrecy laws.

3. Lags in Data Updates

   • Some secrecy laws change quickly, and the index may not reflect the most recent policy changes.

4. Does Not Differentiate Between Legal and Illegal Activity

   • Some financial secrecy is legitimate (e.g., privacy protections), and the FSI does not distinguish between legal tax planning and outright evasion.

…………..

‘Does not measure actual tax evasion’ So  this is an index that measures confidentiality as opposed to government sponsored  cheating like Ireland. Try again.

Ireland began by stealing EU tax but expanded this practice worldwide. 
The UK are no longer part of the EU, and still Ireland continues to invoice sales revenue derived from the UK.

The global agreement was simple. Tax must be paid to the country from where the sale was made - not by Ireland.

Someone once stood on an ant, and that justifies Ireland stealing tax from everywhere in the world.

Ireland began by stealing EU tax but expanded this practice worldwide. 

No we didn't.

The UK are no longer part of the EU, and still Ireland continues to invoice sales revenue derived from the UK.

Evidence?

The global agreement was simple. Tax must be paid to the country from where the sale was made - not by Ireland.

Ireland signed up to the global agreement. The UK did not.

Someone once stood on an ant, and that justifies Ireland stealing tax from everywhere in the world.

Someone supported Brexit without fully understanding the consequences, Brexit has been a clear and demonstrably failure, so they need some excuse to try to justify it and they settled on Ireland's tax arrangements, despite the UK being the long time worst enabler of tax abuse and other countries in the EU being worse at.

I must admit I will laugh if Trump moves the Irish operation to America.
It is no real loss to the EU, because Ireland has cut the % of tax so low that it is such as small amount. 

I would prefer to throw Ireland out of the EU and apply tariffs to get the money back that Ireland steals from the EU. 

Ireland was the poorest country in the world and they begged us to let them into the EU. We then proceeded to fund Ireland to build its infrastructure. What did we get back? Not just nothing, but Ireland steals our tax.

Ireland is not a value proposition to the Europe, they are a burden and parasitic to our mode of life. 

So Stav,

If Ireland were following the global tax reform, do you agree that the sales revenue declared by Ireland should be lower? A Yes or No will suffice...
(E.g. Ireland should only be declaring income from sales derived within the border of Ireland).

Under Pillar One, a share of profits of the largest MNEs will be taxed in the countries where sales occur, potentially reducing the amount of profit that these companies declare in low-tax jurisdictions like Ireland. This reallocation is designed to prevent profit shifting to jurisdictions with lower tax rates and to ensure that profits are taxed where economic activities and value creation occur.

The global tax reform, particularly the OECD's Two-Pillar Solution, aims to address the challenges of profit shifting and base erosion by multinational enterprises (MNEs).

Pillar One seeks to reallocate a portion of taxing rights over the profits of the largest and most profitable MNEs to the jurisdictions where their goods or services are consumed, regardless of the MNEs' physical presence in those jurisdictions. Pillar Two introduces a global minimum corporate tax rate of 15%, ensuring that MNEs with revenues above €750 million are subject to this minimum rate.

I must admit I will laugh if Trump moves the Irish operation to America.
It is no real loss to the EU, because Ireland has cut the % of tax so low that it is such as small amount. 

I'd be more concerned about him wrecking the world economy.

I would prefer to throw Ireland out of the EU and apply tariffs to get the money back that Ireland steals from the EU. 

Okay, that's never going to happen.

Ireland was the poorest country in the world and they begged us to let them into the EU.

Talking about exaggeration, Ireland was a poor country particularly by Western European standards when we joined the EU (then ECC) but we were never the poorest country in the world or even close too it.

As for begging to be let into the EU, well firstly the EU didn't exist back then it was the ECC which we joined in 1973 during the first around of enlargement on the same day the UK did.

We then proceeded to fund Ireland to build its infrastructure. What did we get back? Not just nothing, but Ireland steals our tax.

This is Mike level of nonsense now. Guess your going to ignore the UK's trade surplus with Ireland as well.

Ireland is not a value proposition to the Europe, they are a burden and parasitic to our mode of life

Actually we are now a net contributor to the EU for the last few years. . But the very fact the you refer to Ireland as a burden and parasitic, just like your supposed rational for the UK joining the EU demonstrates you fundamentally don't understand what the whole concept of the EU is about.  I can't say I blame you, you weren't born here and the UK has always been the aloof one and never really understood it either.

Anger you come back with the same claim I debunked once before….that Brexit is a clear failure. That’s truly Mike like. Here’s the pound:

Since the United Kingdom officially left the European Union on January 31, 2020, the British pound (GBP) has experienced notable fluctuations against the euro (EUR). Here's an overview of its performance:

Exchange Rate on January 31, 2020:

1. On the day of Brexit, the exchange rate was approximately 1 GBP = 1.1901 EUR.
2. exchange-rates.org

Performance in 2020:

1. High: The pound reached a peak of 1.2073 EUR per GBP on February 18, 2020.
2. poundsterlinglive.com
3. 
   
4. Low: It dipped to a low of 1.0523 EUR per GBP on March 19, 2020.
5. poundsterlinglive.com
6. 
   
7. Year-End: By the end of 2020, the pound had depreciated by approximately 5.25% against the euro compared to its value at the start of the year.
8. exchange-rates.org
9. 
   

Subsequent Trends:

1. In the years following Brexit, the pound exhibited periods of both appreciation and depreciation against the euro, influenced by factors such as economic data, monetary policy decisions, and geopolitical events.

Recent Developments:

1. As of February 10, 2025, the exchange rate stands at approximately 1 GBP = 1.202 EUR.
2. wise.com

Conclusion:

Since the official Brexit date, the British pound has experienced significant volatility against the euro, with periods of both appreciation and depreciation. As of early 2025, the pound has strengthened to levels comparable to those seen at the time of Brexit.

……

In terms of cumulative growth it lags Europe by about a point and a half, most of which is predicted to be recovered in 2025. This by a country that lagged Europe chronically since 2008.

Let’s not revisit this disproven notion again.

I did mean that the Irish were the poorest in Europe, not the world.

However, we did clothe and feed the Irish before you sold us down the river to US Big Tech.

Ireland created a checkout coupon code: Less than 1% Corporate Global Tax, Buy Now

When Ireland stops invoicing other countries' corporate taxes, we see a massive reduction in Ireland's income. However, this has not yet appeared to be the case. Ireland may have signed up to the agreement, but they are clearly in breach of the contract already.

Do you agree that Ireland should stop invoicing the corporate tax of other countries? A Yes or No will suffice.

If American companies base themselves in Ireland that is fine. There is still revenue for paying the employees- but it is not tax revenue of other countries.

Reuters

Breakingviews - Ireland spins global tax mess into $28 bln of gold

If recent efforts to clean up the global corporate tax system had worked, Chambers' happy predicament wouldn't be possible.

.

Oct 8, 2024

Anger you come back with the same claim I debunked once before….that Brexit is a clear failure.

LOL Trust Moz to cherry pick one of the few pieces of reasonable positive economic data for the UK out of sea of bad data.

Let’s not revisit this disproven notion again.

Even the Brexiteers in the UK have given up trying to pretend Brexit has been a good thing. Poor old Moz didn't get the memo.

However, we did clothe and feed the Irish before you sold us down the river to US Big Tech

What are you talking about who's we? The UK, are you really going argue that Ireland owes the UK something after 800 years of oppression? As for feeding us...Ireland even when it was poor was a net exporter of food because the countries economy was then mostly based around agriculture back then. Stop just saying random nonsense.

Do you agree that Ireland should stop invoicing the corporate tax of other countries? A Yes or No will suffice.

Yes I agree, if a sale of a product is made in another country the tax on that product should be payed in the country the product its sold in and not be routed back to Ireland or any other country.

Here is a yes or no question for you.

Do you agree the UK should stop the city of London and British overseas territories should stop laundering up to 40% of the entire globes dirty money (i.e criminal money most commonly drug money, but other proceeds of crime such as human trafficking, arms dealing etc) do you also agree that the UK should put a stop to the trillions of dollars hidden away by City of London and overseas territories that deprives the world hundreds of billions of dollars ever year.

It's all very well calling out Irelands tax arrangements, but don't be a hypocrite the UK is worse for enabling tax abuse.

No of course I don't support any tax fraud, money laundering or any financial misconduct.

The US and UK financial markets include this fraudulent money, but it is not as if all of it is intentional.

However, the UK economy is not built on tax fraud. About 80% of Ireland's economy is built on stealing other countries corporate tax.

You signed an agreement for the global tax reform, but Ireland has no intention of honouring it.

Ireland could invoice a trillion each year of sales that belongs to the EU, as well as other places in the world (e.g. the UK).

It would just be easier to remove Ireland from the EU. They have given nothing back, and all they do is sabotage the EU by allowing US corporates to dodge tax.

If Ireland wants to make America great again, they must become part of America.

No of course I don't support any tax fraud, money laundering or any financial misconduct.

The US and UK financial markets include this fraudulent money, but it is not as if all of it is intentional.

Stop making excuses, it is of course intentional. The UK has been the worst enabler for Tax abuse for near 100 years.

However, the UK economy is not built on tax fraud. About 80% of Ireland's economy is built on stealing other countries corporate tax.

Lies, multinational corporate tax receipts account for over a quarter Ireland's GDP, now if you want to argue the majority of that should of been taxed else where you can, but saying 80% is stolen from other countries is a complete lie.

You signed an agreement for the global tax reform, but Ireland has no intention of honouring it.

We signed up to pillar two, the 15% minimum corporate tax rate, and Ireland like the rest of the world was negotiating on pillar one (which is what your thinking about) but it never came into affect anywhere.

Ireland could invoice a trillion each year of sales that belongs to the EU, as well as other places in the world (e.g. the UK).

Yeah can we come back to reality.

It would just be easier to remove Ireland from the EU. They have given nothing back, and all they do is sabotage the EU by allowing US corporates to dodge tax.

Removing someone from the EU is actually extremely difficult. No country in the EU wants Ireland gone, even France who are the ones who complain about our tax arrangements the most have ever even hinted at suggesting that.. Hell Ireland even joined the French Francophonie a French culturally commonwealth as an observer a few years back. Ireland is one of the success stories of the EU, a model country that the EU likes to hold up, the idea that Ireland would be kicked out on the complaints of tax evasion on the complaints of a country that is the biggest enabler of tax abuse in the world is farcical.

And here's the funnier thing that you don't seem to understand, the EU has its own list of Tax havens across the world, but it won't list Ireland or any other EU member state. It effectively protects Ireland and other EU countries tax arrangements, one of the perks of being a member. They did the same for the UK until the UK left.

If Ireland wants to make America great again, they must become part of America.

I suppose if America asked us nicely we could talk about America becoming the 33rd county of Ireland. I think the US would do really well under Irish rule, could be a tremendous success as Donald would say.

Ireland is not a success story of the EU, it is the leading argument why the EU should not exist.

A country joins up and uses their membership as a platform to attract US companies who want to pay less than 1% corporate tax.

Ireland is not a success story of the EU, it is the leading argument why the EU should not exist.

You have absolutely no clue why the EU exists.

A country joins up and uses their membership as a platform to attract US companies who want to pay less than 1% corporate tax.

Whats the obsession with Ireland's tax arrangements over the UK's worse tax abuse and the last 14 years of self inflicted economic mismanagement.

Gosh I cherry picked GDP growth and the value of the pound as indicators of Brexit impact. How unreasonable. The UK economy has performed no worse for leaving Brussels, despite the incompetence of several UK government since Brexit. Spin it any way you like, that’s the truth.

That is the truth, Mozart. But hey ho, there’s a lot of people who won’t admit it.

What do you think to our disaster of a Chancellor ?

I recently watched a Jacob Reece Mogg show recently where he suggested that Ireland could be invited back into the United Kingdom. After all we have done for them, I have to agree

I don’t think that’s likely !

The UK economy has performed no worse for leaving Brussels, despite the incompetence of several UK government since Brexit. Spin it any way you like, that’s the truth.

https://www.london.gov.uk/new-report-reveals-uk-economy-almost-ps140billion-smaller-because-brexit

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2024-03-19/brexit-s-lasting-economic-and-financial-damage-looks-inescapable

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-07/uk-is-on-track-for-4-hit-to-economy-from-brexit-obr-says

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/17/economy/brexit-stifling-britain-trade-europe/index.html

https://www.statista.com/statistics/567983/effect-of-brexit-on-gdp-in-the-uk/

And that's just the economic side, the Brexiteers promised it would help bring down immigration as well, instead it went up.

You can tell Brexit is a disaster because in the UK no one wants to talk about it. Event he Brexiteers in the UK are completely quiet about it. If there was any benefits at all they would be singing about them from the rooftops.

As well as that public polling shows that far more people think its been damaging to the UK than it has been a benefit and regret the decision to leave.

That is the truth, Mozart. But hey ho, there’s a lot of people who won’t admit it.

It's about as far from the truth as people can get. Every economic assessment has been damning.

I recently watched a Jacob Reece Mogg show recently where he suggested that Ireland could be invited back into the United Kingdom. After all we have done for them, I have to agree

Does the right honorable gentlemen from the 18th century still have his nanny with him when he said that?

Yes we have read those views before….as usual it’s best to go to the data. Brexit was launched at a time of a time of difficulty. It’s not surprising it’s unpopular…but only 32% of the population wants to go back to full EU membership. Here are the GDP numbers:

2015–2019:

1. United Kingdom:
2. 2015: 2.3%
3. 2016: 1.9%
4. 2017: 1.9%
5. 2018: 1.3%
6. 2019: 1.4%
7. Cumulative Growth: Approximately 9.1%
8. European Union:
9. 2015: 2.3%
10. 2016: 2.0%
11. 2017: 2.7%
12. 2018: 2.0%
13. 2019: 1.8%
14. Cumulative Growth: Approximately 11.2%

2020–2024:

1. United Kingdom:
2. 2020: -9.3%
3. 2021: 7.5%
4. 2022: 4.1%
5. 2023: 0.6%
6. 2024: 1.2% (estimated)
7. Cumulative Growth: Approximately 3.5%
8. European Union:
9. 2020: -5.9%
10. 2021: 5.4%
11. 2022: 3.5%
12. 2023: 0.8%
13. 2024: 1.0% (estimated)
14. Cumulative Growth: Approximately 4.6%

……So in the 5 years before Brexit the EU grew a cumulative 2.1% more than the UK. In the 5 years after Brexit the EU grew a cumulative 1.1% more than the UK. Mountains of bullshit are written about this, picking the best comparison period and all the usual cherry picking tricks.

Those the the fundamentals….the pound is back to it’s pre Brexit level and if anything GDP growth rates have got closer to EU growth. All that despite several horribly incompetent UK governments and a particularly bad Covid experience

…but only 32% of the population wants to go back to full EU membership.

You mean 55%

https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/51484-how-do-britons-feel-about-brexit-five-years-on

……So in the 5 years before Brexit the EU grew a cumulative 2.1% more than the UK. In the 5 years after Brexit the EU grew a cumulative 1.1% more than the UK. Mountains of bullshit are written about this, picking the best comparison period and all the usual cherry picking tricks.

Love the way you can just dismiss anything you don't like as mountains of bullshit and accuse others of cherry picking.

Point to GDP figures all you want, the fact is they would of been unquestionably better without Brexit.

Those the the fundamentals….the pound is back to it’s pre Brexit level and if anything GDP growth rates have got closer to EU growth. All that despite several horribly incompetent UK governments and a particularly bad Covid experience

Like the way you ignore the fact you ignore the fact that the war in Ukraine hit the EU harder than the UK.

Pigeon Chess....

More schooling…..go to this link, if you don’t recognize it, look at your post….you posted it:

https://www.statista.com/statistics/567983/effect-of-brexit-on-gdp-in-the-uk/

But I’ll save you the bother:

How voters feel about Brexit in 2024

Since the middle of 2021, a growing majority of voters in Britain have advised that they think Brexit was the wrong decision. As of May 2024, around 55 percent thought it was wrong to leave the EU, compared with just 43 percent in April 2021. By comparison, the share of Britons who think Brexit was the right decision has fallen from 46 percent to 31 percent in the same time period. Voters are, however, still quite divided on what relationship they want with the EU, with only 31 percent supporting rejoining completely. Furthermore, Brexit has fallen behind other issues for voters such as the economy, the NHS, and immigration and will play a much smaller role in the 2024 election than it did in 2019.

……

So there is a drop in enthusiasm for Brexit during a tough period, not surprising. But ‘only 31% supporting rejoining completely’. And that number will drop when the little men in suits demand their pound (no pun intended) of flesh.

Read, reflect….try to develop a bit of wisdom. These are golden learning opportunities for you.

Well I don’t want to rejoin !

And as it was a fair referendum, I am in favour of honouring the result.

More schooling…..go to this link, if you don’t recognize it, look at your post….you posted it:

So your just going ignore the YouGov poll then?

But I’ll save you the bother:

Ah yes more cherry picking. So 72% of people polled want some form of closer relationship with Europe, while just 10% are happy with the current relationship and just 9% want to move further away. LOL yeah schooled.

And that number will drop when the little men in suits demand their pound (no pun intended) of flesh.

Not surprisingly Moz doesn't understand the reluctance that some in the UK have about rejoining in the EU. Its to do with the fact that Brexit was a deeply divisive issue in the UK that absolutely dominated political discourse for several years in the UK and left room or energy for anything else, it frankly damaged the UK's international imaged and is seen by many as something of an embarrassing national trauma.

If you offered the UK the option of rejoin on the same terms they left with no questions asked, no strings attached and the EU said we will forget all about the last few years, the majority of UK citizens would take that option. Its the thought of having to through the whole traumatic debate again that puts them off somewhat, but in this time this will fade, as well as the fact that Brexit as a concept was something supported more by the elderly than the young and not to be a dick about it, that lot is dying out. Brexit will increasingly and correctly seen as an unnecessary drain on the UK economy that will only get worse over time as they diverge from the EU and have to deal with more red tape.

Support already factors in the pound, its not actually a redline for the EU as several EU countries haven't adopted the Euro despite its supposed requirement.

Read, reflect….try to develop a bit of wisdom. These are golden learning opportunities for you.

Perhaps you should follow your own advice.

Well I don’t want to rejoin !

Fair enough.

And as it was a fair referendum,

Funny thing about it is that it wasn't. The ironic thing was the referendum wasn't binding, its something the UK government could have chosen to ignore without facing legal consequences. Had it been legally binding referendum there was enough irregularities on the vote leave side that it would have been brought to court and rendered legally void.

I am in favour of honouring the result.

Well you are of course entitled to your opinion, personally I believe its been very harmful to the UK economy and to a lesser extent the EU's, that's why I hope there is another referendum, but I suspect we are minimum 10 years away from that.

I am in favour of the UK starting to rebuild its colonial empire starting with Ireland.

We want to make the world a safer place, and Ireland can feel protected once we have brought them back into the fold.

I am in favour of the UK starting to rebuild its colonial empire starting with Ireland.

Great Ireland can commit even more tax abuse as an overseas territory of the UK, while still beating the Poms at rugby.

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Anger you provide a source….I quote from the source….then you are shocked I haven’t looked at some other source. You can make these things come out any way you like, it all depends on your motivation.

Brexit has not been the economic disaster that was predicted, if anything the economy is doing slightly better measured against Europe. And there is no ground swell to go back to pre Brexit Europe. Only 35% want that. But not surprisingly the Brits want a better relationship with Europe.

Get a good UK government and it will all be in the rear view mirror.

Anger you provide a source….I quote from the source….then you are shocked I haven’t looked at some other source. You can make these things come out any way you like, it all depends on your motivation.

Yes you cherry picked certain data same as you always do.

Brexit has not been the economic disaster that was predicted, if anything the economy is doing slightly better measured against Europe.

Virtually every economic assessment say others and the general discourse in British politics is that's been a failure that's best not talked about. Now you can of course find some people on the remain side who's most dire predictions didn't come true but "Brexit has not been the economic disaster that was predicted" is hardly a ringing endorsement of a project that was suppose to usher in the Sunlit Uplands for Britain.

And there is no ground swell to go back to pre Brexit Europe. Only 35% want that. But not surprisingly the Brits want a better relationship with Europe.

I've explained the reason's why British people are reluctant to reopen the debate as well as the reach of the right wing media in the UK who pushed Brexit being against going back. Never the less is a growing ground swell to go back. Again your cherry picking data with the 35% other polls such as YouGov put it at 55%.