Business  
/
 
Sectors  
Colm Keena

Colm Keena

Public Affairs Correspondent

Colm Keena is the the public affairs correspondent with The Irish Times where his areas of interest include business controversies and the interaction between business and politics. Keena's report in 2006 about the Mahon Tribunal’s inquiries into payments to the then Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, created a political crisis. His refusal to cooperate with the tribunal’s inquiries into the source of the information in that report eventually led to a Supreme Court ruling governing the right of journalists to protect confidential sources of information. He's the author of books on Bertie Ahern, Charles Haughey and Gerry Adams as well as on the secretive banking system that operated during the Haughey era known as the Ansbacher Deposits.

A woman on her Apple iPhone outside Government Buildings in Dublin yesterday. Photograph: Julien Behal/PA Wire
Ireland caught up in US tax loophole

Apple’s corporate structure is designed to frustrate liability to taxation

Foreign investors have easy access to policymakers

Companies get message across through American Chamber and at informal meetings

Constable James O’Brien (centre), from Kilfergus, Co Limerick, was an unarmed policeman on duty at the Cork Hill entrance to Dublin Castle when he was shot dead.
First victim of the Rising

The first man to die in the Easter rebellion was an unarmed RIC Limerickman – James O’Brien

The Apple logo. Ireland has developed a reputation as a safe and efficient place in which to base your IP holding company as part of a global tax structure
Intellectual property rights at the core of Apple’s Irish subsidiaries

Firm’s subsidiaries in Cork are not tax-resident anywhere

Jeremy Masding, CEO Permanent TSB: wrote to all staff yesterday outlining his determination to achieve the reduction in costs being targeted by the bank. Photograph: Dave Meehan
Directors agree 10% cut in fees at Permanent TSB targets

Move designed to show solidarity with staff who are losing defined benefit pension scheme

Imelda May is fronting the latest credit union advertising campaign.
Credit unions struggle to secure reasonable return on assets

Lending is down and interest rate on savings is dropping

John Dixon, Ernst & Young’s head of tax, gives evidence the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee inquiry into Google’s tax affairs. Photograph: PA/PA Wire
Ireland might be wise to look more closely at Google

Analysis: Scrutiny of the web giant’s tax affairs may have serious knock-on effects

Google’s European, Middle East and African sales headquarters on Barrow Street, Dublin. Photograph: Paul McErlane/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Google’s next search may concern its own tax

Internet giant may have to rethink its structure as political pressure over tax returns mounts

Eircom chief executive Herb Hribar said the sale will allow Eircom concentrate on delivering next generation technologies
PhoneWatch sold to Norwegian firm

Eircom sells what it says is not a core business

More articles

Popular in Business

Two bankrupt Irish developers penalised in UK for hiding assets
Nama secures more than £300 million from sale of Citi Tower in London’s Canary Wharf
Government zealously protects the wealthy in Ireland’s Wild West tax haven
US private equity group Blackstone shows interest in acquiring Bord Gáis Energy
Crowley Carbon promises major savings on energy costs for business

MARKETS

Our Columnists

Dan O'Brien Dan O'Brien - Economics Editor

Global clampdown on multinational tax avoidance could get nasty

Laura Slattery Laura Slattery - Journalist

Facebook hate speech should have advertisers running

Karlin Lillington Karlin Lillington - Technology Journalist

Release of more data is a good thing for citizens

Vincent Browne Vincent Browne -

Government zealously protects the wealthy in Ireland’s Wild West tax haven

Home Delivery Home Delivery

Get The Irish Times newspaper delivered to your front door by 7.30am each morning.