Apple commits to Ireland expansion despite looming EU tax ruling
Apple has said it is committed to its operations in Ireland regardless of the outcome of an investigation into its tax affairs.
“You can tell by our announcement today, we’re all in,” Apple chief executive Tim Cook told Irish national broadcaster RTE after the company announced it was creating 1,000 new jobs in the country at its operations in Cork.
Apple declares profits in Ireland due to its low corporation tax rate of 12.5 per cent.
The EU last year accused Ireland of giving Apple special treatment that may have amounted to unfair state aid. A decision will be reached after Christmas, Irish finance minister Michael Noonan said today.
“If there is an adverse ruling, we’re going to appeal, Ireland is going to appeal and we’re going to support them because there was no special deal, no special arrangement,” Cook said.
“I can’t say for sure what they’ll come back with but what I do know for sure is if the evidence is viewed on a fair basis, I believe strongly that it will be found that there is nothing wrong done.”
By mid-2017, Apple plans to have 6,000 employees in Cork.