Ireland under UN spotlight over tax avoidance

Ireland faced tough questions at the UN headquarters in Geneva in January regarding its role in enabling corporate tax avoidance and the impact this can have on children in poorer countries.

Minister Roderic O’Gorman was quizzed by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on a range of issues affecting children. The Committee expressed ‘serious concern’ that aspects of Irish tax policy can enable large multinational companies to shift profits from developing countries to and through Ireland, siphoning off essential revenue needed to pay for hospitals and schools.

Crucially, it was the first time a UN human rights body has formally questioned Ireland’s role in international tax avoidance, and came on foot of detailed research submitted by a coalition of NGOs led by Christian Aid Ireland. Following the hearing, the asked if Ireland’s tax policies impacted on the rights of children in poorer countries.