I am aware of negative publicity surrounding the mine referenced by the Deputy, however, I believe that this matter is best addressed by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Simon Coveney T.D. I am aware that Minister Coveney has addressed this issue in a recent PQ (Ref No: 3893/19), on 29 January 2019. The full text of that response is available online at: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2019-01-29/66/.
With regard to the Deputy’s question as to the company’s tax arrangements, as the Deputy is aware, I am not at liberty, nor is it appropriate for me, to discuss the tax affairs of individual companies.
Furthermore, I am advised by Revenue that they are prohibited by section 851A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 from providing information of any kind about any specific taxpayer. Therefore, Revenue is not in a position to provide specific information in relation to this taxpayer. I would note that in collecting the tax due under the law, whether from individuals or companies, Revenue acts independently and impartially, regardless of the taxpayer concerned.