The former leader of the UK Independence Party, Nigel Farage, has warned that Ireland is about to go for higher corporation tax rates not because the Government wants it but because "that's what Brussels wants."
Discussing Irish public opinion of the EU, Farage said he didn't "buy" the fact that Ireland is now a pro-European country. He claimed Ireland is the only member state of the EU that has rejected two treaties in referendums.
The former leader of the UK Independence Party believes that Irish public opinion is now very similar to British public opinion. Farge said he suspected if there was a referendum on Ireland's future it would be "a close run thing."
The comments were made during an interview with David McWilliams which will be aired on TV3’s Agenda at 12pm on TV3.
In a direct quote from the interview, Farage said, "I worked in Brussels for seventeen years. They do not like your level of corporation tax - which is why they will move towards what they call a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base - you will over the next few years lose your big competitive advantage. And when that happens, the debate in Ireland about EU membership will change."
He added, "As Trump goes in that direction, as the UK undoubtedly goes in that direction, of lower tax rates, Ireland is about to go for higher corporation tax rates, not because the government wants it, not because the Dáil wants it, not because the people want it, because that's what Brussels wants."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
