A chara, – Having recently noted that multinational leaders are once again appealing to the Government to retain the corporate tax rate of 12.5 per cent, I feel this sacred tenet of the Irish economy should be discussed.
Corporate tax ensures that the profits of companies are spread throughout society so that the many may benefit rather than only the few. By pitching our tax rate extremely low we are in effect undercutting the good social policies of other countries. Similar to a worker crossing a picket line and being called a scab, we have in effect become the economic scabs of the world, allowing corporations to avoid paying tax, avoid social responsibility and maximise profits for shareholders.
I think it is time we take a look at this disgraceful policy and amend it by increasing it to at least 15 per cent. This is still a long way off the capitalist US rate of 35 per cent but at least would bring us more into line with other nations and signal our solidarity with nations trying to promote values such as fairness, equality and justice. – Is mise,
SEAN McMAHON,
West Terrace,
Inchicore,
Dublin 8.