Court Orders Apple to Pay €14 Billion to Ireland as Government Explores Spending Options
Dublin: The European Union’s top court has rejected Apple’s final appeal against a ruling requiring the company to repay €13 billion ($14 billion) in back taxes to Ireland, concluding a long-standing dispute. The European Court of Justice upheld the European Commission’s 2016 decision, stating that Ireland granted Apple unlawful state aid through favourable tax arrangements. Apple expressed disappointment, maintaining there was “never a special deal.”
This ruling is part of a broader EU effort to hold U.S. tech giants accountable for taxes, competition, and privacy, spearheaded by European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager. On the same day, Google also lost its final appeal against a €2.4 billion antitrust fine for giving its shopping service an illegal advantage in search results. Both cases highlight the EU’s growing determination to regulate Big Tech, though the financial impact on Apple and Google remains minimal, with the combined fines representing just 0.3% of their total market value.
The Prime Minister has stated that the funds will not be allocated to daily expenditures.
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris emphasised that even if Apple were to pay Ireland €14 billion in tax revenue, the money cannot be used for routine expenses. He further noted that the government would carefully deliberate on how best to utilise the funds. Opposition parties and various organisational leaders have proposed different approaches for the use of the money once received. Suggestions include addressing the country’s housing crisis, paying down public debt, or investing it as a long-term asset.
Irish Samachar English News
{OR} Kindly click to follow the Irish Samachar News channel on WhatsApp