The Deputies are far from protecting them.

The Deputies are describing them as transitional jobs. In one sense, they are-----

-----providing uncertainty.

They are not providing political solutions to the challenges we face. I wonder whether the Deputies have met many of these high-quality employees who provide a unique service to these companies that are extremely important to rural Ireland. If we look at the number of jobs in the regions, these companies provide more than 31,000 jobs in the west. More than 16 companies, as I said, are providing more than 5,500 jobs. These are, then, far from transitional jobs-----

-----and far from being the result of bargain basement corporation tax receipts.

In one sense, the Deputies need to reflect on that point. It is quite disrespectful and incorrect to describe these companies as what the Deputies have described them. They need to reflect on this point. Certainly, no reference was made-----

-----to the current unemployment rates, nor to the more than 2.8 million people now employed in our economy. Indeed, these FDI companies support our strong indigenous companies. Indirectly, we have seen thousands of-----

-----jobs created as a result of these sectors, which has been a real positive in relation to EI-backed companies now exporting back to the US.

In the US, more than 770 Irish companies are now creating more than 200,000 jobs. We are the sixth largest investor in the US. This is extremely important if we look at the scale of what Ireland has to offer and the mutual relationship between the countries. Additionally, Ireland has certainly built a strong reputation for global business and this is based on more than just our tax policy. Global companies are certainly here not because of tax loopholes but because Ireland is a launch pad for many of them to have t…

Regarding the tariffs and challenges we have regarding the all-Ireland economy, we are working to ensure that supply chains on the island, which are deeply connected and integrated, are supported as we face the challenges ahead.

The Deputy knows what he has said.

Bargain basement.

It is disgraceful.

That is not pertinent.

Does the Deputy want them to go to the UK?

No.

I thank the Senator for her question. I note the concerns and cases raised. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe. As the Senator stated, CAT is a beneficiary-orientated tax payable by the recipient of a gift or inheritance, as opposed to the person providing that gift or inheritance. For CAT purposes, the relationship between the person giving a gift or inheritance, the disponer, and the person who receives it, the beneficiary, determines the maximum amount, kno…

I again thank the Senator for her contribution on this issue. I note the concerns she raised in her contributions. The Minister for Finance and his Department, however, are satisfied as to the constitutionality of the existing CAT legislation. It should also be noted that contrary to the Senator's arguments, there are exemptions in place currently for CAT. This is the case where dwelling houses can be provided to individuals, in the context of people who have passed on, who have lived in the dwellings in question f…

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. As he will be aware, Ireland has a comprehensive body of employment, equality and industrial relations legislation. Ireland’s system of industrial relations is essentially voluntary in nature. It has been the consistent policy of successive governments to support the industrial relations institutional framework. Indeed, the programme for Government commits to supporting the central role of the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court in industrial rel…

As I said in my earlier contribution, Ireland has a robust suite of employment rights legislation to protect and support workers in redundancy situations. In the first instance, responsibility for the resolution of industrial disputes between employers and workers rests with the employer and the workers and their representatives. The programme for Government supports the critical role of the WRC and the Labour Court, if it gets to that situation, in the context of industrial relations and employment rights. As the …