DUBLIN: Ireland’s fragile minority government meets for crunch talks to resolve a stalemate on Sept 2 after an EU ruling on Apple that has divided the country and undermined a cornerstone of its economic policy. The money is equivalent to around 5% of Ireland’s gross domestic product last year and almost all of its annual healthcare budget. Finance Minister Michael Noonan described the landmark European Commission verdict on Aug 30 as “bizarre” and vowed to challenge the finding that Ireland had given Apple special treatment. ”I would be more interested in preserving Ireland’s sovereign tax status,” he said, accusing the European Commission of interfering in Ireland’s tax affairs. On Sept 1, Apple chief Tim Cook turned up the heat further stating his belief that the Irish government “would do the right thing”.

Source: thestar September 02, 2016 04:07 UTC