The Government today attempted to derail the passage of a bill aimed at enabling refugees living in Ireland to be reunited with family members. Following a vote, the bill passed committee stage in the Seanad despite the government voting against it.
However, although having majority backing from across the political spectrum, Minister David Stanton, speaking against the bill, indicated that Government are planning to block further progress when it reaches the Dáil via invoking a controversial, little-known technical power which denies a “money message”1 for the Bill.
The Family Reunification Bill seeks to undo the unintended consequences of the International Protection Act 2015 which narrowed the definition of the family for refugees to include only a spouse and children under 18.
This has had a devastating impact on the lives of refugees settled in Ireland. It has separated children aged 18 and over from their parents, divided siblings and destroyed extended family networks.
The Bill was introduced by the Seanad Civil Engagement Group; Senators Colette Kelleher, Frances Black, Alice-Mary Higgins, Lynn Ruane, Grace O'Sullivan and John Dolan, who worked with Oxfam Ireland, Nasc and the Irish Refugee Council on the new legislation.
Senator Colette Kelleher said;
“We were happy to win the vote in the Seanad today however the government’s stated intention to use an obscure technicality to block the Bill’s passage in the Dáil is a devastating blow to those refugees who have already been recognised and settled in Ireland. This Bill would make it more straightforward for siblings over 18 and other immediate family dependents to apply to join those already granted asylum in Ireland.
This legislation simply seeks to restore the definition of family which stood from 1996 - 2015 and one which is more in tune with an Irish understanding of a wider, more inclusive one.
I know of refugee families in Ireland who are separated from their parents or older children. They long to have them join them in Ireland but haven’t been allowed due to the existing legislation. Sadly, the government isn't listening and has decided to thwart our attempts to change this. We plan to continue to advocate on behalf of refugees and push to change the law to make it simpler for family members to join their loved ones.”
Senator Alice-Mary Higgins said;
“The small number of refugees settled in Ireland have often fled traumatic situations and endured distressing journeys to arrive here. Anyone starting a new life in a different country needs support and integration and the best way to do this is with your family beside you.
It is disappointing that rather than address this Bill on its merits, the government are planning to block its future progress via the controversial and rarely-used denial of a money message. This is not in the true spirit of democracy and could be seen as showing a disregard for the legislative process.
Ireland was co-chair the 2016 UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants and should be showing global leadership rather than indulging in evasions and excuses which damage people's lives. We urge the government to reconsider their position and face up to their moral responsibilities on family reunification."
ENDS
Daniel English
Oxfam Ireland
086 3544954
1. Money message: In order for Private Members’ Bills which are deemed by the Ceann Comhairle to involve a charge on the State to progress to committee stage in the Dáil, they need a ‘money message’ from the government. Historically, this mechanism has rarely been used. However, the denial of a money message has recently been used to block a number of opposition Bills from reaching Committee stage in the Dáil.
Minister Donohoe must support moves on tax haven “blacklisting” at tomorrow’s EU meeting
Responding to the latest Paradise Papers revelations which contain startling information about multi-national companies such as Nike and Glencore and which highlight Ireland’s relationship with Apple, Jim Clarken, Oxfam Ireland, CEO said;
“The latest leaks show the lengths to which major multi-nationals have gone to avoid tax. Tellingly, they claim that “Ireland tied itself in knots hoping to retain Apple”. This is unedifying, damages our international reputation and deprives governments of vast sums in tax revenue.
Tomorrow in Brussels, EU finance ministers will discuss setting up a blacklist of tax havens. Blacklisting is one measure which can be effective for tackling tax avoidance, so Minister Donohoe needs to express Ireland’s unequivocal support for the move."
Corporations such as Apple, Nike and Glencore spend millions lobbying governments to water down tax reforms. The 50 biggest US companies, including Apple, spent an estimated $352 million lobbying on tax issues in the country between 2009 and 2015 while receiving over $423 billion in tax breaks. For every $1 they spent lobbying on tax issues they received an estimated $1200 in tax breaks
Ireland needs to get on board with proposed EU reforms which would tackle the type of scandalous activity revealed in the Paradise Papers, Oxfam Ireland has said today.
Information released in the papers has shed new light on the role played by Irish banks that allowed some of the world’s most profitable corporations significantly reduce their tax bills. Further details of Ireland’s involvement are also scheduled to be released.
Oxfam Ireland, CEO Jim Clarken said; “I wish I could say that I was surprised by the detail contained in the Paradise Papers and Ireland’s suggested involvement. However, we’ve been here before with the Panama Papers and other leaks. Nevertheless, we can’t just shrug our shoulders and accept this as a part of international commerce.
Tangible options are now available to put a stop to this murky world where corporations and the super-rich cheat governments out of billions in revenue.
Ireland now has the opportunity to show leadership by supporting EU proposals aimed at fighting this type of tax evasion. This is especially important considering that our own country’s tax arrangements have been implicated as facilitating some of these nefarious practices. So now is the opportune time for the Irish Government to show their support for these reforms.”
Specifically, the Irish Government now needs to support:
•Public Country by country reporting: This requires large multinational companies to disclose where they generate profits. This means that companies would have to pay taxes in the country where the profits are made. Currently, they declare profits in offshore havens where in reality, the company has little or no activity and pay miniscule tax.
•Establish a “blacklist” of non-tax compliant countries: Compile a list of those nations which refuse to adhere to international tax rules. Listed countries should face stiff penalties. Currently Trinidad and Tobago is the only blacklisted country in the world which is not credible.
Jim Clarken said; “At the core of these reforms is transparency. These is no legitimate reason for big corporations to hide their tax affairs. The only reason multi-national companies use these offshore funds is to allow them avoid paying their fair share of tax. Tax that could be used in Ireland and in poorer nations to help fund health, education and other social services.
The Irish government must show commitment to playing its part in tackling this global scandal by supporting reform measures at EU level. In the past, the Irish Government claims that it fulfils international standards in tax transparency as set out by the OECD. However, under these transparency standards the tax information of multinational companies remains secret.
These so-called ‘transparency measures’ haven’t prevented the abuses we are seeing in the Paradise Papers. It is obvious that public reporting is needed to end these abuses once and for all.
Government has said that tax avoidance is a problem best tackled at international level. Now is their opportunity to be part of this global response by dropping its opposition to these vital reforms.”
Oxfam estimates that over $7 trillion of personal wealth is hidden in these offshore accounts. At least $100 billion of tax revenue is lost to developing countries alone every year. Even if half of this money was paid in taxes, the lives of 8 million women, children and babies would be saved. Ireland, the lack of tax revenue leads to essential services being cut or additional taxes imposed on ordinary citizens.
Political leaders must put interest of public over corporates and super rich-Oxfam Ireland
5 November 2017
Spokesperson available
First came #LuxLeaks, then #Panama Papers. Now, today the so called #Paradise Papers reveal that governments are still losing billions in revenue due to international corporations and billionaires hiding their fortunes and avoiding paying their taxes.
Today as the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists published details of the companies and individuals cheating governments out of billions of dollars in tax revenues, Oxfam Ireland is demanding that political leaders put the interests of the public over corporates and the super-rich and put a stop to the scandal of tax dodging.
Oxfam Ireland, CEO Jim Clarken said: “The Paradise papers are yet another ugly insight into how the global tax system is being exploited by those who should be paying most. They reveal the staggering scale of the tax dodging scams and evasion tricks which are depriving governments of billions in income.
The revelations in the Paradise Papers also expose our leaders’ feeble attempts to stop tax cheats. Following the Panama Papers expose, we heard tough talk from politicians but this has translated into weak reforms thanks to pressure from big business and the super-rich.
We must remember that tax dodging impacts on everyone whether they live in richer nations or the developing world. It fuels poverty and inequality. When the super-rich and corporations dodge taxes it is ordinary people, who pay the price.
Just think how the additional revenue could help improve services in a country like Ireland. The extra taxation could be directed towards schools, hospitals and other social services. Some of the billions dodged by corporations and the super-rich in poor countries every year could fund the healthcare services needed to prevent the deaths of millions of mothers, babies and children.”
Oxfam Ireland is proposing several ways to stop the global tax dodging:
Establish a “blacklist” of countries who refuse to adhere to international taxation rules. Listed countries should face stiff penalties.
End tax secrecy. Establish a publicly-available, register of companies so we know who their real owners are. This will make it easier to follow the money.
Introduce a second round of tax reforms to build on the BEPS1 (Base Erosion and Profit Shifting) process. This time it should work in favour of all countries, not just the wealthiest.
Jim Clarken said: “Governments, including Ireland’s must work together to shut down tax havens by establishing a global tax haven blacklist; end tax secrecy so that its clear if corporations and the super-rich pay their fair share of tax; and kickstart a new round of tax reforms that rebuild the tax system in the interests of the majority and not the few.
It is not good enough to argue that tax avoidance is permissible because practices fall within the letter of the law. Legal loopholes abuse a broken system. Everyone has a responsibility to contribute towards the public services and infrastructure on which we all rely.
These changes take a lot of time and effort, but most importantly, they take political will. Otherwise, the super-rich will keep siphoning billions of dollars away into their offshore accounts.”
First meeting since EU referred Ireland to European Court of Justice
As the Taoiseach meets with Apple CEO, Tim Cook today, Oxfam Ireland is urging him to stress that the days of special deals for companies like Apple are over.
During his trip, the Taoiseach will meet with senior executives from several tech firms including Apple, Facebook, Microsoft and Google. This will be the first meeting between the Taoiseach and Apple since the European Commission announced it was referring Ireland to the European Court of Justice for failing to collect €13 billion of state aid from the company.
Oxfam Ireland, CEO Jim Clarken said; “These meetings are an ideal opportunity for the Taoiseach to make an unambiguous commitment to reforming the tax arrangements for multinationals operating in Ireland.
Ireland’s needs to stop blocking EU plans to ensure all multinationals in the EU show greater transparency when detailing where they make their profits and pay their taxes. As long as tax dodging continues to drain state coffers, there will be less money to spend on important public services.
Most Irish people understand that negotiating special tax deals like the one that allowed Apple to avoid paying €13 billion has greatly damaged Ireland’s international standing and reputataion.
Greater tax transparency would make it easier to verify whether companies’ tax bills reflect their real economic activity and to hold them to account if not. Fairer tax arrangements are good for Ireland, good for the EU and good for developing countries. The Taoiseach now has the opportunity to show leadership by insisting on arrangements which ensure big corporations pay a fair share of their big profits in taxation.”
This week Oxfam realised a video highlighting the impact on poorer countries. Less than half of the amount of tax which companies dodge in poor countries per year would be enough to pay for essential healthcare to prevent the needless deaths of eight million mothers, babies and children.
