Government's Apple Barrister Fees Rotten to the Core

Governments Apple Barrister Fees Rotten to the Core

Aontú Leader & Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín has condemned the expenditure of €8.4m of taxpayer monies by the government to reward an army of solicitors firms and barristers for their efforts to ensure Apple are allowed to keep their €13 billion in unpaid taxes due to the Irish people.

Tóibín stated: “€3.28 million to William Fry. Over €610’000 to PWC. Over €540’000 to McCann Fitz. Nearly €200’000 to Baker McKenzie. Four individual barristers earned well over €500’000 – Paul Gallagher , Maurice Collins SC , Philip Baker QC , Barry Doherty . These payments are in addition to several more sizable payments being made to barristers and solicitors firms who also assisted on the case. The legal fees bill numbers over €8.4 million.”

“This expenditure by the government when the country is on the precipice of an economic crash is a two fingers to struggling families in Ireland. It demonstrates in flashing neon lights this government’s priorities”.

“Taxpayer monies are being spent in a manner that significantly damages the interests of those same taxpayers. The so-called party of ‘fiscal prudence’ are involved in fiscal self harm in fighting to refuse billions owed in taxes”.

“Be it the private hospital deal, be it the children’s hospital black hole, be it hiring of government ‘spin doctors’, the Irish people have seen the fruits of their labours squandered by a mixture of incompetence and corruption. The Irish people deserves better than a government that prioritises legal fees, spin doctors and private hospitals over the needs and rights of the Irish people”

Aontú calls on the government to end this disgraceful cycle of government waste, and to actively pursue the repatriation of the unpaid Apple tax monies to the Irish government to be reinvested in our society.

The Irish political system is radically broken

In Ireland the vast majority of elected representatives put a finger in the air to check which way the political wind is blowing. They have one eye on their leaders – seeking brownie points – and another eye keeping their seat safe. If elected reps shut up and do as they’re told, they are promoted; if they stand up for what they believe in, they are demoted. No wonder we have the political class we have. No wonder one point one billion euro is being buried in a hole under the National Children’s Hospital and that Stormont is in stalemate.

Throughout Ireland, many people are now afraid to say what they feel, many are afraid to respectfully engage on a range of different topics. Many feel there is a new censorship and a new political correctness in Ireland, that opposition to the establishment is being deleted.

Respectful opposition is not the enemy. Respectful opposition is a critical element of a functional democracy. Aontú will have the backbone to stand up, without fear, for you.