Ireland: Government vows to fight EU decision over Apple tax

The Irish government has vowed to fight an EU decision ordering Apple to hand over €13 billion in tax after deciding Dublin tax authorities breached state aid rules when dealing with the tech giant.

The Irish coalition government held a crisis cabinet meeting with Prime Minister Enda Kenny calling his ministers back from their summer holidays to discuss the crisis.

Kenny’s Fine Gael party is supported by a loose coalition of independent politicians who are not committed to fighting the tax ruling. A decision on whether to appeal the controversial ruling has been deferred until Friday.

Two independent ministers within the government, Shane Ross and Finian McGrath have demanded that the Dail (Irish Parliament) is recalled to discuss the matter.

However, the country’s main opposition party, Fianna Fail, is likely to recommend challenging the ruling.

Brussels ruled that Apple, the world’s richest company, avoiding paying virtually all tax on cash it routed through its Irish operation.

Full Content: Daily Mail

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