Ireland will collect the outstanding €13bn Apple tax bill later this year the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar confirmed.
The Taoiseach’s announcement comes after the European Commission’s ruling back in August 2016 stated that the owed fees must be paid despite the Irish Government’s refusal to accept the money.
Speaking in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, Mr Varadkar said although the Government disputes the European Commission’s ruling, Ireland will collect the tax sometime in q2 this year.
The Taoiseach who claimed that Ireland’s reputation has been damaged by the case, also said although Ireland will reluctantly accept the payment the Irish Government can prove to the European Courts of Justice that there was no special deal in place with Apple.
Mr Varadkar who was attending an economics forum also told reporters that the Irish Government will continue to dispute the case, but as it will take years to finally reach a ruling the government has no option but to take the money which is currently sitting in an escrow account.