"Ireland cannot be part of current global tax reform deal" - Donohoe

I would like the opinion of our neighbours to be that we are upfront and that we will try to protect our interests in a civil way. Not agreeing to do something against your interests is not an aggressive move it is merely defensive. It would be worse if we were seen as a country that merely measured the direction of the wind and followed for fear of upsetting others. Or worse still went along with it only to simultaneously undermine it with other state aid schemes. At least it is the honest approach which in the long run might be better for international relations.

Why in the hell would we even consider what other countries think about our tax rates? Did we ever pressured any of them about their tax policies?

We absolutely do have to consider MNCs operating here, they are part of Irish economy.

su generis?

or sui generis?

Which?

Right, so we need to work on funding r&d and helping domestic startups. But why increase corporation tax?

What is going on is not just (or mainly?) about specific rate (how many of the MNCs actually pay even our 12.5 % on their global profits I wonder)? As for question about "why in the hell would we even consider what other countries think about our tax policies", well I suppose it's just another result of globalisation. If MNCs are very mobile & we or other countries want to compete on tax rules + try and lure these MNCs to base here or shift assets here and that harms other countries, they are not just going to sit and take it lying down forever. The government engaged in OECD process for many years. Why didn't they just refuse to consider other countries opinions right from the start? I'm not so cynical that I believe that was entirely in bad faith + they see a benefit to Ireland from international co-operation vs just saying its our perogative and we don't care what anyone else thinks! If process collapses (as govt. seem to be holding out for), it is going to become every man for himself given how important this issue now appears to be to several powerful countries (incl. the US) and I don't think Ireland will come out of that well in the end.

For my own part the govt.'s/Ireland's kowtowing to these companies so much and facilitating them in paying less tax (and in other areas too) never sat well with me given I've left wing political views (when it comes to the economy).

I do understand it though & how it has benefitted the country over the last few decades, and could definitely see logic of why they opposed it at EU level.

I just think momentum internationally has now approached the point where opposing is more likely to harm the country than provide any benefit(s), and probably won't be able to stop the inevitable anyway.

edit: Was doubful of that 12.4 % figure but found this article giving an effective rate of 12 %.

I suppose once the mechanisms that Apple etc. were using were closed (that finished this year or last year I think??) the effective/real rate increased towards the 12.5 %.

We're not the cheapest broad. But there are indeed broads that are more expensive but also old and fat that are jealous on our success.

Israel is 13th in the world in the Innovation ranking, Ireland is 15th in the world in the innovation ranking. Not near as much as a gap as you make out.