Sinn Féin volte face on Ireland’s financial affairs extraordinary as party now favours international cooperation – Kyne

Sinn Féin’s populism knows no bounds as the party which bases itself on isolationism and a socialist model of economics is now in favour of international cooperation on Ireland’s taxation affairs.

Cabinet will tomorrow discuss the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) global corporate tax rate reform.

Galway West Senator Sean Kyne, Fine Gael’s Seanad spokesperson on Public Expenditure & Reform, said Sinn Féin have suddenly had an overnight conversion towards working with our European and international colleagues on financial matters.

Deputy Pearse Doherty yesterday said, ‘Sinn Féin have been clear that remaining inside the tent following the conclusion of these negotiations is in the best interests of the State. Remaining outside the tent would damage our reputation and economy, and result in lost revenue that would be collected in other jurisdictions.’

Senator Kyne said, “This new-found position by Sinn Féin is some volte face for a party that in the past was consistently opposed to European tax and accession treaties, and have criticised the Government for defending Ireland’s interest in retaining our 12.5 per cent tax rate.

“The party has constantly called for more taxes on people and businesses. This has been their central campaign theme – tax, taxes and more taxes- which would damage the economy and stall job creation as we emerge from Covid-19.

“Before last year’s Budget, Deputy Doherty proposed higher taxes on multinationals and now they want a foot in every camp regarding proposed international plan which seeks to reform and modernise the tax base on multinationals.

“On one hand they say they want more taxes on multinationals, yet they criticise the Government when this becomes a possibility while also saying we should stay within the international tent.

“Sinn Féin had no interest in international relations before this development, but we are accustomed to them flip-flopping when they want to score political points.

“Prior to last year’s Budget, Sinn Féin opposed every move towards European integration; they campaigned against the following referendums: Accession (1972), the Single European Act (1987), Maastricht (1992), Amsterdam (1998), Nice (2002), Lisbon (2009), Fiscal Treaty (2012).

“Sinn Féin consistently attacks the Fine Gael Government for its record on Brexit, despite the fact that it stayed on the side-lines by not using its voice to represent the people of Northern Ireland, in either Westminster or Stormont – leaving civil servants governing there for three years.

“They are a narrow Eurosceptic party, and the public should be mindful of the collective amnesia Sinn Féin representatives suffer when they suddenly agree with policies that do serve the common good and stand up to scrutiny, unlike those contained in their manifestos,” Senator Kyne said.