LIMERICK TD, Michael Noonan has said that he is under no pressure from Europe to change corporation tax rates and that he will continue to work as Minister for Finance despite recent health issues.
Speaking in Limerick at the announcement of 100 new jobs through WP Engine, Minister Noonan said that putting a budget in place was a challenge given the wide variety of voices involved in Government, but that he was confident of getting it through on October 11.
When asked about his health, Minister Noonan said that he would not be drawn further on the matter, other than the update he gave his parliamentary colleagues last week.
Minister Noonan was recently diagnosed with cellulitis, a bacterial infection which leads to redness and swelling of the skin and that he would be receiving treatment.
The Limerick TD said that he was committed to cabinet and seeing out the the term of his portfolio.
“I took on a job and I am doing the job and I will continue to do it”.
Ahead of the budget which will be delivered on October 11 next, Minister Noonan said that there were a number of challenges facing Government with three independent voices, the FG parliamentary party and the voices from FF who are supporting the stability of the Dail from the opposition.
“In terms of putting a budget in place, there are a lot of views that have to be taken in to account, but they don’t seem to be conflicting in many ways so I am quite confident in getting a good Budget through.”
When asked if he feared Micheal Martin would come knocking on his door 24 hours after delivering the Budget and telling him that ‘time is up’, Minister Noonan quipped “I don’t think Michael Martin knows where I live, so I have no such fear even if he did”.
When asked about the recent Apple Tax decision, Minister Noonan said “Government is not under pressure to change the Corporation tax rate and that it will continue to help the country attract FDI companies to Limerick like Fazzi, Uber, and WP Engine.
“We could nearly put it on the flag now as everybody knows internationally that the rate is 12.5 per cent, and when industrialists think of Ireland they automatically think of 12.5 per cent, but just in case there is any doubt I will confirm it again in this year’s budget.
