Google revenue diverted through Ireland 'to make amends for Black & Tans' - Brit MP

wandatowell · 30-10-2013 10:04PM

Irish history in secondary school bord me senseless. Irish history from the text books I led me to think not much had change in Ireland over the years and it was the same petty in fighting thats still going on. Mind numbing crap.

I was more interested in the Irish history proceeding that, which strangely I learned about when learning Irish in primary school.

It pisses me off that Irish history start @ Cromwellian invasion. Horse****.

keith16 · 30-10-2013 10:18PM

Frank Lee Midere wrote: »

You said they didn't sell what they did here, here. They do software services here.

So why is it then, that on an invoice for a Nexus device I purchased from Google:

Purchased from:
Google Commerce Ltd
Gordon House, Barrow Street
Dublin 4
Ireland

but I had to mask my IP, pretend I was in Britain and use a British shipping address to send a device from Birmingham?

The only time the device was in Dublin was when it arrived in my hands. How in the name of god was it purchased from Dublin?

Fratton Fred · 30-10-2013 10:18PM

Grandeeod wrote: »

Just another misguided comment from a British official. He's attempting to use historical events to explain the actions of a multinational. Im surprised he didnt use the term paddy and claim there was IRA involement.

I dislike ignorance, but a lot of UK politics and media are full of it.

Why are you looking for offence where none was meant?

darkpagandeath · 30-10-2013 10:22PM

keith16 wrote: »

So why is it then, that on an invoice for a Nexus device I purchased from Google:

but I had to mask my IP, pretend I was in Britain and use a British shipping address to send a device from Birmingham?

The only time the device was in Dublin was when it arrived in my hands. How in the name of god was it purchased from Dublin?

It was built on the Internet then shipped to you :P

harryr711 · 30-10-2013 10:25PM

keith16 wrote: »

So why is it then, that on an invoice for a Nexus device I purchased from Google:

but I had to mask my IP, pretend I was in Britain and use a British shipping address to send a device from Birmingham?

The only time the device was in Dublin was when it arrived in my hands. How in the name of god was it purchased from Dublin?

Companies sell different products into different markets. It presumably makes financial sense for them to hold stock of that product in Britain if that's the intended destination/market for the product. I don't see any issue here.

Gavlor · 30-10-2013 10:25PM

Rojomcdojo wrote: »

He has a point, though, to an extent. An extremely uncomfortable phase between us and the Brits, after British (Central) rule, has morphed into a case where Britain treats Ireland quite favourably both economically and politically, in the grand scheme of things. Considering the history between our two countries, and with Irish bombs going off on the mainland UK not so long ago, they take an extremely conciliatory tone with us. Quite different to Argentina, for example, whom they've also had issues with during a similar timeframe.

Seriously?! Argentina, Iraq, Afghanistan.... Were all either government led or government backed violent acts against Britain and its interests. What you're implying is the the Irish government backs the actions of the ira or whatever handle they use now.

darkpagandeath · 30-10-2013 10:27PM

harryr711 wrote: »

Companies sell different products into different markets. It presumably makes financial sense for them to hold stock of that product in Britain if that's the intended destination/market for the product. I don't see any issue here.

So it was purchased in the Uk then so as the stock was in the UK and nowhere else

keith16 · 30-10-2013 10:32PM

harryr711 wrote: »

Companies sell different products into different markets. It presumably makes financial sense for them to hold stock of that product in Britain if that's the intended destination/market for the product. I don't see any issue here.

Wut? Companies sell different products to different markets? What an amazing insight.

So it makes sense for them to hold inventory in Britain, sell it to the British market but put and Irish address on the invoice?

There is a bloody big issue here. Google taking advantage of Ireland's low corporate tax regime, while simultaneously sticking two fingers up to the Irish market.

harryr711 · 30-10-2013 10:35PM

darkpagandeath wrote: »

So it was purchased in the Uk then so as the stock was in the UK and nowhere else

The product is apparently not intended for the Irish market. The buyer bought online by masking his IP address. He bought it from an Irish company that was selling into Britain. There is nothing wrong with this. This is common business practice across the world, not just Google in this particular scenario. How the **** is this even an issue to some people?

harryr711 · 30-10-2013 10:37PM

keith16 wrote: »

Wut? Companies sell different products to different markets? What an amazing insight.

So it makes sense for them to hold inventory in Britain, sell it to the British market but put and Irish address on the invoice?

There is a bloody big issue here. Google taking advantage of Ireland's low corporate tax regime, while simultaneously sticking two fingers up to the Irish market.

There is no issue here. Companies sell into foreign markets every day of the week. They pay corporation tax in the country in which they are incorporated. If a company doesn't wish to sell their product in a particular country they don't have to. Common sense.

.jacksparrow. · 30-10-2013 10:39PM

Sir Humphrey Appleby wrote: »

Most people in Ireland don't either!

Didn't take you long!

.jacksparrow. · 30-10-2013 10:41PM

Gavlor wrote: »

Seriously?! Argentina, Iraq, Afghanistan.... Were all either government led or government backed violent acts against Britain and its interests. What you're implying is the the Irish government backs the actions of the ira or whatever handle they use now.

Those blasted Afghanis on their camels attacking the mighty empire, what were they thinking!

keith16 · 30-10-2013 10:42PM

harryr711 wrote: »

The product is apparently not intended for the Irish market. The buyer bought online by masking his IP address. He bought it from an Irish company that was selling into Britain. There is nothing wrong with this. This is common business practice across the world, not just Google in this particular scenario. How the **** is this even an issue to some people?

Google are an Irish company now? They are not selling "into" the British market, they are selling from within the British market via google.co.uk

It's an issue to many many people because it is depriving the British exchequer of millions in tax. It's a huge issue because Ireland continues to come under pressure from Europe for fostering this type tax dodging.

What do you think Google will do if or when Ireland does up it's rates? They won't be long upping sticks from Barrow St.

Jesus Christ :mad:

average hero · 30-10-2013 10:45PM

As long as the revenue continues to be diverted here, supports Irish jobs, and/or give us a hand in any way, I could not care if it were to make up for the Nine Years War up North during the 1500's

darkpagandeath · 30-10-2013 10:50PM

average hero wrote: »

As long as the revenue continues to be diverted here, supports Irish jobs, and/or give us a hand in any way, I could not care if it were to make up for the Nine Years War up North during the 1500's

what the less than 3% effective tax they pay ?

harryr711 · 30-10-2013 10:59PM

keith16 wrote: »

Google are an Irish company now? They are not selling "into" the British market, they are selling from within the British market via google.co.uk

It's an issue to many many people because it is depriving the British exchequer of millions in tax. It's a huge issue because Ireland continues to come under pressure from Europe for fostering this type tax dodging.

What do you think Google will do if or when Ireland does up it's rates? They won't be long upping sticks from Barrow St.

Jesus Christ

You bought the product from Google Commerce Limited, an Irish company. Google Commerce Limited sells product into the British market via google.co.uk.

I was looking at buying something from a website with a .eu domain name. Where do they pay their corporation tax? Straight to the EU in Brussels? :pac:

You've completely missed the point on tax avoidance. It has nothing to do with selling into different markets and not paying corp tax in those markets, nor does it have anything to do with the 12.5% rate. It's to do with a loophole that allows companies to be stateless in terms of tax residency. This loop hole will be closed.

Nodin · 30-10-2013 11:04PM

"Richard Murphy, Director of Tax Research UK told RTE Radio's Morning Ireland that he doesn't know exactly where Mr Mitchell's comments about the Black and Tans came from."

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/google-revenue-diverted-through-ireland-to-make-amends-for-black-tans-suggests-british-mp-29707797.html

I've a good idea meself.

grenache · 30-10-2013 11:09PM

I liked one of the comments underneath the story:

"Giving Ireland back her 6 counties would be a better way of making amends".

anncoates · 30-10-2013 11:11PM

pablomakaveli wrote: »

I'm surprised he even knows what the Black and Tans are. Most people i've met in Britain know next to nothing about Irish history.

Why would they care?

.jacksparrow. · 30-10-2013 11:14PM

anncoates wrote: »

Why would they care?

Well they all seem to be remembering their war dead this week...

anncoates · 30-10-2013 11:18PM

I'm asking why would we expect English people to be especially interested in Irish history as opposed to any other European neighbour?

Because of colonialism?

Do you go around feeling personally responsible for the acts of past Irish governments?

MadsL · 30-10-2013 11:19PM

grenache wrote: »

I liked one of the comments underneath the story:

"Giving Ireland back her 6 counties would be a better way of making amends".

Or completely destroy the Irish economy...even Germany hit a bump on reunification.

Grandeeod · 30-10-2013 11:45PM

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Why are you looking for offence where none was meant?

I found it offensive.

Grandeeod · 30-10-2013 11:49PM

anncoates wrote: »

Why would they care?

They should as it would improve relations between us.

moxin · 31-10-2013 12:24AM

anncoates wrote: »

I'm asking why would we expect English people to be especially interested in Irish history as opposed to any other European neighbour?

You have to ask?

There is an ongoing frozen conflict in NI which can re-erupt at any time, it involves citizens from both countries, that's why. The UK does not have a dispute with any other European neighbour that involved recent serious violence. So education for the populace of both countries is essential to help reach a compromise.

Mark Twain · 31-10-2013 12:45AM

It was a quip said in passing. I'd keep the faux moral outrage in place for something more worthy of its outpouring.

getzls · 31-10-2013 12:47AM

Carlos Roca wrote: »

Anyone who supplied arms to Nationalists in the north at the time should be revered for their efforts to prevent ethnic cleansing.

You think that was only one-sided do you?

My Aunt was forced to move twice by Catholic mobs.

The area she lived in is now 100% Catholic.

Karl Stein · 31-10-2013 12:55AM

getzls wrote: »

You think that was only one-sided do you?

Oh look it's the typical 'them'uns were just as bad' attempt to distract attention.

There were isolated incidents of it happening to Unionists but nothing on the scale it happened to Nationalists.

Unlike for Nationalists I'm unaware of Unionist refugees heading for Scotland or Britain.

getzls · 31-10-2013 01:25AM

Carlos Roca wrote: »

Oh look it's the typical 'them'uns were just as bad' attempt to distract attention.

There were isolated incidents of it happening to Unionists but nothing on the scale it happened to Nationalists.

Unlike for Nationalists I'm unaware of Unionist refugees heading for Scotland or Britain.

Yeah, whatever you say.

My Aunt was just the unlucky Prod to be isolated, not once but twice then?

Old Dan Tucker · 31-10-2013 03:05AM

I can't abide praising those across the water for anything, but this sounds like the olive branch that is needed.

If this happens, I'll finally be able to admit publicly that I love Pork Pies smeared with English Mustard.

Oh, the relief.

Google revenue diverted through Ireland 'to make amends for Black & Tans' - Brit MP

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