Healy Rae urges caution on EU changes

MICHAEL HEALY RAE RESPONDS TO JUNCKER ADDRESS AS SEÁN KELLY WELCOMES CYBER SECURITY MOVES

KERRY deputy Michael Healy Rae - chairman of the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs - was among the first to flag caution on EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’s State of the Union address - a speech that set fears over changes to the nation’s corporation tax rate into overdrive. WHILE Deputy Healy-Rae welcomed the overall tone of the address, he urged caution on proposals to change the ways in which the European Council votes on crucial issues. The Kilgarvan man’s comments came amid a maelstrom of concern in this country over the potential loss of a tax code seen as vital to the maintenance of Ireland’s competitive edge.

However, Mr Juncker has since rowed back on his calls to radically shake-up EU rules in so far as he insisted his vision of greater tax harmonisation across the union was not ‘anti-Irish’ and that the EU would not interfere with our tax rates.

“The suggestion on moving voting within the Council from unanimity to qualified majority voting (QMV) on tax and financial matters is an interesting idea. But I would caution that there are very few areas that are covered by unanimity in the Treaty, and for a very good reason – they are the few areas that are core to how countries operate, so this proposal, like many proposed today, will have to be considered judiciously,” Deputy Healy Rae said.

However, he said that overall he welcomed the ‘positive outlook’ he felt President Juncker had delivered to the Parliament last week: “The emphasis on strengthening trade, supporting industry, addressing climate change, responding to modern digital challenges and on continuing to face up to the significant migration challenges which exists are all needed, and are welcome,” he said.]

MEP Seán Kelly has meanwhile welcomed Juncker’s pledge to prioritise cybersecurity: “It is now almost daily that we hear about data breaches... and there are more sinister risks too from terrorists who want to cause damage and disruption.”