Is it just me or have SF vanished?

Mortelaro wrote: »

Are you suggesting Apple would drop an appeal? Why would they do that?

there may be tax advantages for them - it would accrue as taxes paid here, which can be offset against their US tax bill.

Mortelaro wrote: »

Are you suggesting Apple would drop an appeal? Why would they do that?

Apple have paid the money over. If Ireland drops it's case Apple's case becomes much much weaker.

Sultan_of_Ping wrote: »

Not at all - the funds are invested and the investment and management of the escrow fund is jointly overseen by the Minister for Finance and Apple Sales International (ASI) and Apple Operations Europe (AOE) through an investment committee.

The Minister is the beneficial owner for the duration of the escrow fund in accordance with the framework deed. EDIT: Strictly speaking the "payee" on the account will likely be the escrow agent.

If Apple drop their appeal and we do likewise then we get the moolah, although other MSs may look to claim a chunk of it. Dropping it means we then have to accept the fallout - that Commission has a role in sovereign tax matters - is that a good thing or bad thing? I would suggest the latter, but hey that's just me.

So nothing illegal if things are done properly. No 'raiding' required or indeed suggested as was said by original poster.

The rights, wrongs, advantages, disadvantages are another debate.

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Apple have paid the money over. If Ireland drops it's case Apple's case becomes much much weaker.

Not necessarily. If it was shown that we dropped our case because we wanted the money it wouldn’t weaken Apple Case. All legal arguments have been made in initial case. Would we be saying that Ireland lied or were mistaken in our arguments? We could say we now agree with European Commission but that wouldn’t weaken apples case, especially as we have lodged our appeal. How can we withdrawn without it looking mal fides?

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Apple have paid the money over. If Ireland drops it's case Apple's case becomes much much weaker.

Why would we drop our case before Apple - doesn't exactly send out a great message to one of the longest standing FDI companies here - does it?

FrancieBrady wrote: »

So nothing illegal if things are done properly. No 'raiding' required or indeed suggested as was said by original poster.

The rights, wrongs, advantages, disadvantages are another debate.

Yes, "done properly" means waiting for the court case to play out.

Sultan_of_Ping wrote: »

Yes, "done properly" means waiting for the court case to play out.

Dropping the case is not 'improper' or 'illegal'. It is something we are perfectly entitled to do at any stage if our opinion changes or circumstances change.

Runaways

Was FF raiding the pension fund illegal?

Always wondered

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Dropping the case is not 'improper' or 'illegal'. It is something we are perfectly entitled to do at any stage if our opinion changes or circumstances change.

Of course we can - there's no law against being stupid.

So yes nothing to stop walking away from a long standing partner and handing the Commission a role in our sovereign tax affairs - Commission wouldn't be too bothered, but the other MSs, despite any windfall, might be a bit miffed but if it means more for them by way of FDI, then perhaps not.

I suppose Trump would be a bit miffed to see us and the EU get the money instead of the US - but he really doesn't matter.

To be honest, dropping the case unilaterally, is just the type of stupid act we can expect from an SF-led government on about day #2 :rolleyes:

[Deleted User]

Sultan_of_Ping wrote: »

Not at all - the funds are invested and the investment and management of the escrow fund is jointly overseen by the Minister for Finance and Apple Sales International (ASI) and Apple Operations Europe (AOE) through an investment committee.

The Minister is the beneficial owner for the duration of the escrow fund in accordance with the framework deed. EDIT: Strictly speaking the "payee" on the account will likely be the escrow agent.

If Apple drop their appeal and we do likewise then we get the moolah, although other MSs may look to claim a chunk of it. Dropping it means we then have to accept the fallout - that Commission has a role in sovereign tax matters - is that a good thing or bad thing? I would suggest the latter, but hey that's just me.

This is the main point we should be really worried about.

Runaways wrote: »

Was FF raiding the pension fund illegal?

Always wondered

No, because that money was always within our custody/jurisdiction - if you think it was maybe point to the statutory instrument/deed they breached?

Deleted User wrote: »

This is the main point we should be really worried about.

Agreed - but populism demands the sacrifice of our long-term interests for short term transient gains. Then when we realise how goosed we are we can always blame the "elites."

Runaways wrote: »

Was FF raiding the pension fund illegal?

Always wondered

And if you have always wondered, what have you come up with.

Sultan_of_Ping wrote: »

Agreed - but populism demands the sacrifice of our long-term interests for short term transient gains. Then when we realise how goosed we are we can always blame the "elites."

Apologies if this offends you, but I am with Vesthager on this. If she wins in her quest to have all corporations pay their fecking dues...then we all as Europeans benefit.

These companies(Amazon, Apple, Chrysler, Starbucks etc etc) are pulling a fast one(I would say a 'criminal one') and not paying anything near what they should be and the serfs are scrambling around on the ground in fear looking for their hats to grovel into ..do you agree with that?
Short termism here will hurt us in the long term.

[Deleted User]

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Apologies if this offends you, but I am with Vesthager on this. If she wins in her quest to have all corporations pay their fecking dues...then we all as Europeans benefit.

These companies(Amazon, Apple, Chrysler, Starbucks etc etc) are pulling a fast one(I would say a 'criminal one') and not paying anything near what they should be and the serfs are scrambling around on the ground in fear looking for their hats to grovel into ..do you agree with that?
Short termism here will hurt us in the long term.

It has to be done at an EU / worldwide level. If we do it on our own like SF want we're f*cked.

Randy Archer

maccored wrote: »

I dont care where you think i live mr hilarious, the point is SF made efforts to talk to FF. All your waffling and whataboutery cant change that

Mary Lou’s statements, which I provided , says the contrary . How convenient that you ignore that , but that’s down to your utter lack of experience in politics, business or any form of negotiations

She burned bridges and mouthed off ,showing clear evidence that she ain’t good at analysis or with facts. Who on earth would do a deal with the likes of her when she returns with her tail between her legs. Any half wit knew that she was waffling at the point that she made that amateurish move

Whataboutry ? Lad, you don’t even know what the word means

You went waffling about why the established parties refuse to talk to SF . You have also made several untrue statements that SF sought to talk to FF and FG . Making unfounded statements to the media is not talking to FF and FG . The aforementioned statements that she made ended all prospects of FF or FG talking to her

And we saw how Irish stocks took a dip in value after her student politics stunt

All I did, successfully, was explain why their stance against SF is legitimate . I dealt with the issue directly . Get a dictionary ,son

You don’t care ? Of course you don’t, you have absolutely no ground to make a rebuttal . Your credibility has been shot to pieces

jh79 wrote: »

It has to be done at an EU / worldwide level. If we do it on our own like SF want we're f*cked.

So why aren't we backing the EU?

Fear, is why we are backing the EU.

Or somebody is getting benefit from backing Apple.

Penfailed

The previous 10 or so pages on this thread are mental! SF state that pharma companies need to step up to the plate.
Cue the haters saying, "Who do they think they are? This isn't possible! They don't have a clue! Imagine if SF were in power!"
A couple of posters tried to defend SF and were verbally lynched by the hordes asking about stuff that SF didn't even comment on or about.
Pharma come out and say that they will be ramping up their operations to try to help in the fight against the virus. People who defended SF say, "Ha! Told you so!"
The hordes say, "No! That's not what we meant! We meant 'x, y and z'..."
It's laughable...but not really funny. People on both sides of this argument need to take a step back and take stock. Are you really achieving anything? Are you moving the argument forward? Are you going to change anyone's mind? Some people think SF can do no wrong. Some people think SF can not and will never do any right. I happen to think the reality is somewhere in between.

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Apologies if this offends you, but I am with Vesthager on this. If she wins in her quest to have all corporations pay their fecking dues...then we all as Europeans benefit.

These companies(Amazon, Apple, Chrysler, Starbucks etc etc) are pulling a fast one(I would say a 'criminal one') and not paying anything near what they should be and the serfs are scrambling around on the ground in fear looking for their hats to grovel into ..do you agree with that?
Short termism here will hurt us in the long term.

We won't benefit - how will we benefit if FDI gravitates towards the centre of the EU?

I take it you are a business-person from an earlier post, so if we lose the ability to compete on tax, what will our bases for competition be? We are, at the end of the day, a small island on the periphery - with a very small market - what earthly reason is there for anyone to invest here, aside from tax?

There are no fiscal transfers, so taxes not paid here but paid in France or Germany won't turn up here - likewise there's no mechanism for subsidising or equalising salaries across the EU - is there?

And while they may not pay their due in corporation taxes, a lot of their money finds their way into the state's coffers through income tax, prsi, VAT, business rates, LPT etc etc

Do you really think we'll continue to have sustained tax revenues if there is a flight of FDI?

[Deleted User]

FrancieBrady wrote: »

So why aren't we backing the EU?

Fear, is why we are backing the EU.

Or somebody is getting benefit from backing Apple.

Sorry, not closely following the thread. I was referring to how our tax structures benefits inward investment and the dangers of going rogue not specifically the Apple money.

FrancieBrady wrote: »

So why aren't we backing the EU?

Fear, is why we are backing the EU.

Or somebody is getting benefit from backing Apple.

We do not want E.U. harmonisation of tax if it undermines our ability to attract companies. Employment from them is huge. Development of education is Immemse. If we were the same as every E.U. country then we would lose all that.

If we don’t back Apple then it will apply to every International company we have. They could up and leave. We would lose employment and everything else. So, we as a country are getting benefit from backing Apple.

Wanderer78

joeguevara wrote:

We do not want E.U. harmonisation of tax if it undermines our ability to attract companies. Employment from them is huge. Development of education is Immemse. If we were the same as every E.U. country then we would lose all that.

Strangely enough, if they're not paying enough taxes, you are!

joeguevara wrote: »

We do not want E.U. harmonisation of tax if it undermines our ability to attract companies. Employment from them is huge. Development of education is Immemse. If we were the same as every E.U. country then we would lose all that.

If we don’t back Apple then it will apply to every International company we have. They could up and leave. We would lose employment and everything else. So, we as a country are getting benefit from backing Apple.

I honestly don't think that any MNCs would up and leave but they would simply stop investing, throwing us into a prolonged death spiral. Down the line, that leaves plants vulnerable to being shuttered - unmodernised plants become more and more inefficient and eventually get closed down and razed.

Plus once we rule ourselves out as a viable option for FDI it'll take a generation to get it back, even if we change tack back to supporting our MNCs in a couple of years

Mortelaro

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Apologies if this offends you, but I am with Vesthager on this. If she wins in her quest to have all corporations pay their fecking dues...then we all as Europeans benefit.

.

Is the sinn Féin strategy to make 100's of 1000's of direct and indirect jobs redundant so as unemployed people they will vote for them?
Venezuela here we come then
Order me a sugarcane juice at the bar there I'm driving
Use the government chits

Mortelaro wrote: »

Is the sinn Féin strategy to make 100's of 1000's of direct and indirect jobs redundant so as unemployed people they will vote for them?
Venezuela here we come then
Order me a sugarcane juice at the bar there I'm driving
Use the government chits

It's SF's way of reducing your tax bill - if you're not earning you're not paying taxes. In Shinnernomic logic that's a win

tikkahunter

Sultan_of_Ping wrote: »

I honestly don't think that any MNCs would up and leave but they would simply stop investing, throwing us into a prolonged death spiral. Down the line, that leaves plants vulnerable to being shuttered - unmodernised plants become more and more inefficient and eventually get closed down and razed.

Plus once we rule ourselves out as a viable option for FDI it'll take a generation to get it back, even if we change tack back to supporting our MNCs in a couple of years

Hewlet Packard is a prime example of this .Once the shareholders are not getting bang for their buck your a goner .

Wanderer78 wrote: »

Strangely enough, if they're not paying enough taxes, you are!

What do you mean by this.

tikkahunter

https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/dup-councillor-same-sex-marriage-and-abortion-to-blame-for-coronavirus/02/04/ Just to lighten the mood here is something we can all agree on is bull**** ðŸ˜‚

Not getting into a long winded argument on it.

It's clear to me and anyone with a eye/brain in their head that these corporations are behaving like a law onto themselves.

Getting them to pay more of a fair share and something approaching what they should do is not a huge ask.

Like everything, there is a balance to be struck.