Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 December 2016
181. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the discussions he has had with his ECOFIN colleagues in view of the recent developments in respect of the common consolidated tax base; the steps he has taken in the interests of protecting Ireland's tax sovereignty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40049/16]
View answerThe European Commission's proposal for a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB) was discussed at the November ECOFIN meeting. During the discussion, which was held in public session, a number of my fellow Ministers gave some initial impressions of the proposal. At this discussion I indicated that Ireland will engage constructively with the proposal while ensuring that Ireland's long-term interests are protected. At December ECOFIN, Council Conclusions were approved in respect of the Commission's wider package which includes the CCCTB proposal but there was no discussion of the proposals at that meeting.
As the proposal was only published at the end of October, detailed analysis of it is now underway by my officials and by the Revenue Commissioners. The proposal is complex and technical discussions with other Member States in Council Working Parties are only just beginning. These discussions by necessity will take some time as countries work through the detail of the proposal and consider the potential impact on their tax systems.
