Apple-EU tax bill open thread…

apple-7So the European Commission has ruled that Apple must pay Ireland €13bn in unpaid taxes, which Dublin will appeal and likely will have broader consequences for Irish-EU relations.

I’d be keen for your thoughts. I only have two or three, so far.

The fracas between the EU and Ireland over Apple’s tax bill—what we here locally might term a ballyhoo—has a little to do with taxes and computers, and a very great deal to do with the EU Competition Commissioner, Margrethe Vestager.

Vestager, Denmark’s former Deputy PM, is under political pressure from several national capitals to come up with antitrust victories.

Likely Juncker is examining the ruling closely, given Luxembourg’s slightly flexible approach to tax law.

Agus níl thought eile agam.

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