Irish government requests EU treaty amendment to protect corporation tax rate

[PaddyJoe]

The chances of getting a protocol like this into the treaties are between zero and none, I would think.
I notice that the guarantees promised on neutrality, the right to life, family and education around the time of Lisbon 2 have still not been ratified.

The Irish government has asked the European Union to amend its treaties in order to provide specific legal assurances that the country can continue to control its own corporate tax rate

The request, which comes against a backdrop of growing calls for greater fiscal union in the EU, reflects Ireland’s concern that it could be forced to raise its ultra-low 12.5 per cent corporate tax rate – a move the government says would undermine its competitiveness and ability to attract inward investment.
In a letter to the EU presidency on September 2, seen by the Financial Times, the Irish ambassador to the EU requested that a protocol be attached to Europe’s upcoming Croatian accession treaty, ensuring that Ireland’s jurisdiction over taxation would not be compromised.

However, Ireland’s request for treaty change on the issue has already prompted debate among other member states. Earlier this month the UK blocked discussion of the Irish request at a meeting of EU ambassadors, saying it needed more time to study the proposal. There are also concerns in Brussels that the Irish protocol could lead other member states to demand their own changes to the EU treaties.
The requested protocol would also provide legal guarantees on Irish authority over sensitive social and ethical issues such as neutrality, the right to life, family and education. EU leaders previously agreed to provide guarantees to Ireland on these issues, and on its right to retain control over its corporate tax rate, in June 2009.
But due to the lengthy timeframe involved in ratifying a treaty change, EU leaders decided to postpone ratification of Ireland’s guarantees until Croatia was due to join the EU. Following the conclusion of Croatia’s accession negotiations in July, Dublin wrote to the EU presidency to request the treaty change.

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/3bd53...#axzz1Y4DGkEAk

[PaddyJoe]

Comment from Lucinda to the FT:

Ms Creighton said the request for an Irish protocol was a separate issue to any discussion about the need for wider treaty change. She also reaffirmed Dublin’s commitment to retain control over tax rates.

“That is why at the time of the Lisbon Treaty negotiations we sought to address concerns in this area; and it is why, in the later discussions that have taken place in the context of measures to stabilise the euro and of the Euro Plus Pact, the Irish government has been absolutely firm on this matter,” Ms Creighton added.
A spokesman for the current holder of EU presidency, Poland, said on Wednesday that it had received the Irish request and would continue its efforts on the proposal.
However, it remains unclear whether the Irish protocol will be agreed before the Croatian accession treaty is signed by EU leaders in December.

No sign of this story in the Irish media so far.

[Baron von Biffo]

But why would we need a protocol for that? Didn't all the politicians and the media and the rest of the Yes to Lisbon crowd tell us that it was 100% certain that the CT was untouchable?

After all they were so right on recovery and jobs so surely they were right on everything else.

[TotalMayhem]

If memory serves, "at the time of the Lisbon Treaty negotiations", Lucy Lou "sought to address concerns" in the area of gay marriage.

[unspecific]

Those solemn promises given by the EU regarding abortion and corp tax around Lisbon 2 were meant to be ratified later through protocols attached to the Croatian accession treaty.

The EU can't really say no to this... or I'm sure some legal thing would annull the Lisbon Treaty.

That said, where there's a will to undermine democracy there's a way.

[C. Flower]

Those solemn promises given by the EU regarding abortion and corp tax around Lisbon 2 were meant to be ratified later through protocols attached to the Croatian accession treaty.

The EU can't really say no to this... or I'm sure some legal thing would annull the Lisbon Treaty.

That said, where there's a will to undermine democracy there's a way.

Except no one asked the Irish electorate if they wanted all of these amendments.

[Ah Well]

As long as Sarkozy and Merkel .... oops sorry... I kinda meant the EU ...are on side ... things will be fine

And if they're not ... well tough titty

After all;

[DCon]

She's right.

She has to leave Ireland to get to Europe to be "safer" though. She left that part out

[Ah Well]

She's right.

She has to leave Ireland to get to Europe to be "safer" though. She left that part out

Ah, she's heading for Greece so ... hope the weather's nice (at least)

[PaddyJoe]

The Irish Times update today.

The Government today said it was confident EU member states would agree to guarantee its low corporate tax rate, a move that would ring-fence a key element of its industrial strategy against calls for greater fiscal union in Europe
Minister for European Affairs Lucinda Creighton said today she had asked the EU to attach the formal guarantee of the tax rate to Croatia's accession treaty, which is due to be signed later this year.

"What we are proposing is a technical implementation. I don't envisage any problems at this point," she said..

In addition to the tax guarantee, Ireland also won guarantees on its military neutrality and its permanent commissioner on the European Commission. Those will also be attached to the accession treaty.

Croatia is expected to sign its European Union accession treaty in late November or early December. It would then become a full member in 2013 if the treaty is approved by all EU states.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...reaking34.html

[C. Flower]

The Irish Times update today.


http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...reaking34.html

Well, at least they appear to be playing hardball. But I don't see how you could have something called a fiscal union that had a guarantee in it that there would be no fiscal unity.

[PaddyJoe]

A pound to a penny that Ireland is politely told to take a hike on this. That was then and this is now. If Ireland gets a guarantee that its tax rates are untouchable why shouldn't every other country look for similar guarantees? At a crisis point where it looks increasingly like a choice between the breakup of the Euro and closer fiscal union there's no way that Germany and France are going to let this one slip under the radar.

[PaddyJoe]

According to Lucinda Creighton a protocol will be added to the Croatian accession treaty in November to copper fasten Irish corporation interest rates.
Big win for FG/Lab. I'm surprised I've haven't seen any media coverage so far.
From Friday on Twitter:

LCreighton Lucinda Creighton



EUobserver.com / Ireland has 'batted away' corporate tax challenge, says Europe minister: euobserver.com/1015/114012#.T…


PaddyJoeMcGilly PJ McGillicuddy @



@LCreighton So will a protocol to protect the corporate tax rate be included in the Croatian accession treaty? tinyurl.com/3qx5oyk
@PaddyJoeMcGilly Yes that was agreed at General Affairs Council last week

[Apjp]

The chances of getting a protocol like this into the treaties are between zero and none, I would think.
I notice that the guarantees promised on neutrality, the right to life, family and education around the time of Lisbon 2 have still not been ratified.
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/3bd53...#axzz1Y4DGkEAk

This shyte again. Nobody can force us to do anything. We are a sovereign nation who has been re colonised. It's time we started forcing our own agenda. Like this tax rate is even important. In the grand scheme of things its a piss in the wind. We need an insurrectionary revolution that takes back our sovereignty in full and renders it irrevocable.

[Ah Well]

This shyte again. Nobody can force us to do anything. We are a sovereign nation who has been re colonised. It's time we started forcing our own agenda. Like this tax rate is even important. In the grand scheme of things its a piss in the wind. We need an insurrectionary revolution that takes back our sovereignty in full and renders it irrevocable.

One small problem ... we have an electorate seemingly about to elect a FFer to be their President .. no more need be said on the electorate