I propose to take Questions Nos. 333, 334, 337, 338 and 340 together.
IDA Ireland is the agency with statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Ireland and its regions. In executing its mandate, IDA Ireland engages with corporate entities, as the primary decision makers around FDI investment. The Agency’s key focus is on maximising the level of economic activity and substance in Ireland from these corporations.
IDA Ireland markets Ireland as a location for FDI on the basis of a number of selling points: a pro-business and technologically advanced environment; the availability of an educated and talented workforce with the blend of appropriate skill sets; a range of affordable, state-of-the-art property solutions; the availability of world class access infrastructure, for example, road access to key cities and ports and international airports; and an attractive corporate tax rate. IDA Ireland is a marketing organisation not a tax advisory body. In the course of its engagement with client companies, IDA Ireland provides general information to companies on the Irish tax regime while companies and their financial advisors engage separately and directly with the Revenue Commissioners, as required.
I wish to reiterate that Ireland is not a tax haven. Since the 1950s, there has been a consistent Government policy to use a competitive corporation tax rate as a means to attract investment and jobs to Ireland. A deliberate decision has been taken by successive Governments to ensure that our tax system is transparent and our competitive rate is applied to a wider tax base. I understand from my colleague the Minister for Finance that he has been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the number of companies and the names of same that are incorporated here but non-resident for tax purposes are not available as they are not separately compiled.