Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has insisted Ireland will not budge on its corporation tax rate despite suggestions from Europe it could be put back on the agenda.
The Labour leader rejected reports that Ireland's comparatively low 12.5 per cent rate was up for debate in a sign of solidarity as the euro zone seeks to stitch a growth stimulus package into the fiscal treaty.
"As far as Ireland is concerned, our rate of corporation tax is established, it's not going to change," Mr Gilmore said.
The long-running debate resurfaced when an advisor for new French president Francois Hollande, who has pushed for the treaty to be amended to include growth measures, said France may promote a harmonised rate of corporation tax across Europe.
The Tánaiste said Ireland should stick to its rate to provide certainty to potential investors and to ensure growth in the domestic economy.
"We don't intend to change our position in relation to our corporation tax - that's absolutely firm," he said. "We have to provide certainty to investors by being clear that our rate of corporation tax is not changing and also indeed by passing the stability treaty, so that they have confidence in the euro and confidence in Ireland."
Mr Hollande's advisor Phillippe Aghion said that the new president, who was sworn in yesterday, would seek harmonisation across the board - in corporation tax and financial and banking regulation. He told Newstalk that Mr Hollande expected solidarity from members of the eurozone that had signed up to the fiscal treaty.
Mr Hollande's predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy made continuous calls for Ireland to raise its corporation tax to be in line with the rest of Europe.
The Tánaiste said he was not surprised Mr Hollande was likely to make a similar appeal.