THE PERCEPTION of Ireland in financial markets has “improved in recent weeks”, a senior Government official told the Joint Oireachtas Committee on EU Affairs.
Secretary general of the Department of Finance Kevin Cardiff said there was still “a long and difficult road ahead”, and Ireland was not immune from wider developments affecting the euro area.
On corporate tax, Ireland could not accept the harmonisation of rates or agree to any range of rates or minimum rate which would necessitate or imply any movement from the 12.5 per cent rate.
He said Ireland had declared its willingness to participate constructively in the discussions on the Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base draft directive.
Earlier in yesterday’s meeting the committee unanimously called on European energy commissioner Günther Oettinger to withdraw an “unacceptable” remark he made “appearing to propose that the national flags of ‘deficit sinners’ be flown at half mast as a symbol and deterrent”.
A resolution passed by the committee said the commissioner’s remarks were “not just careless, irresponsible and inappropriate, but also lacking in an understanding of the complexity of the economic realities”.
A spokeswoman for Mr Oettinger has said the suggestion arose in conversation, and the commissioner did not propose this idea nor was he promoting it.
Despite this more than 150 MEPs have signed a letter calling on Mr Oettinger to retract his remarks.