“Tim Cook, Apple chief executive, has been accused of being ‘disrespectful’ to Ireland after he turned down an invitation to talk to a committee of MPs investigating the US technology giant’s Irish tax arrangements,” Vincent Boland reports for The Financial Times.
“In a letter to the committee made public on Thursday, Claire Thwaites, a senior director for government affairs at Apple, said the affair was ‘a complex and challenging issue’ on which it was engaging with the Irish finance ministry and tax authorities as well as the commission. ‘Given the sensitive nature of the investigation and the timing, we have been advised not to undertake any other direct activities, which could potentially prejudice future outcomes. It is on this basis that we are unable to appear before the committee on this occasion,’ Ms Thwaites wrote in the letter, which was dated December 20,” Boland reports. “The letter sparked criticism from Irish politicians. Pearse Doherty, a member of the finance committee, said he was ‘angry and disappointed’ at Apple’s refusal to meet the MPs and contrasted it with Mr Cook’s willingness to appear before the US Senate. ‘For him to refuse to attend the committee now is disrespectful to the Irish people,’ said Mr Doherty, a Sinn Féin MP.”
“However, Mr Cook’s stance could signal Apple wants to distance itself from the furore over the commission ruling, which came as a shock to the Irish government and led to a furious dispute between Dublin and Brussels,” Boland reports. “Apple and the Irish government have lodged separate appeals against the ruling and Mr Cook has defended his company’s tax arrangements in Ireland, where it employs 6,000 people in the southern city of Cork.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Some Irish politicians are playing politics. Shocker.
They don’t need Apple’s CEO for anything of substance. They just want to put on a dog and pony show.
SEE ALSO:
Apple CEO Cook declines invitation to discuss EU tax ruling with Irish parliament – January 5, 2017
Ireland accuses EU of exceeding power in Apple tax grab – December 19, 2016
Apple formally appeals EU tax grab this week, says company was a ‘convenient target’ – December 19, 2016
The ‘Brexit-Apple’ connection: What in the world was Margrethe Vestager thinking? – September 12, 2016
EU ministers line up to take tax bites out of Apple – September 12, 2016
Former EU competition commissioner: Vestager claim that Apple owes back taxes an incorrect use of EU law – September 2, 2016
Irish government to fight EU on Apple tax – September 2, 2016
Treasury accuses EU of trying to steal U.S. tax revenues with Apple decision – September 1, 2016
Irish residents opposed to EU’s tax demand of Apple – September 1, 2016
Apple Inc. pushes back against EU tax grab – September 1, 2016
Apple may repatriate billions of dollars next year after new U.S. President takes office – September 1, 2016
U.S. tax code allows for dramatic retaliation against EU overreach in Apple case – September 1, 2016
Apple CEO Tim Cook on EU tax demand: ‘No one did anything wrong here and Ireland is being picked on… It is total political crap’ – September 1, 2016
U.S. Treasury: The European Commission’s retroactive tax demands on Apple are unfair – August 30, 2016
EU demands Apple pay massive $14.5 billion in taxes plus interest – August 30, 2016
U.S. government warns EU: Do not hit Apple with a massive back tax bill – or else – August 25, 2016