Ireland will maintain a low taxation regime and will retain the right to set its own tax rates if the Nice Treaty is endorsed, the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, said this afternoon.
She told party officials today that No campaigners were spreading a "big lie" by suggesting that corporation tax rates would be harmonised across the EU if the treaty was carried.
She said: "At the Nice Summit nearly two years ago, we negotiated successfully that national governments should set their own tax policies. We resisted pressure for tax harmonisation across Europe.
"And we will continue to hold this ground as committed Europeans who have a clear sense of how a successful European Union should work."
In a speech to Progressive Democrats general council, Ms Harney said No campaigners did not promote low taxes nor job creation. "They are openly hostile to international investors who support 150,000 jobs directly in Ireland and as many again indirectly," she said.