DUBLIN, Sept 12 (Askume) – The European Union court this week ordered Apple to pay Ireland 13 billion euros ($14.4 billion) to help finance the Irish government’s infrastructure, housing and security.
Ireland has been fighting the EU’s pre-tax bill with Apple since 2016 and trying to defend its position as a preferred location for US multinationals in Europe, but it admitted it now has access to the cash, with the funds in escrow now rising to €13.8 billion.
Ministers have promised to decide in the coming weeks how to invest the money – equivalent to about half of Ireland’s annual corporation tax – and Harris’s comments suggest it will be transferred to the new sovereign.
“This money can’t be used for everyday expenses because you only get it once, but we can use it to create some choices and opportunities,” Harris told national broadcaster RTE.
“I’ve been saying all summer, even before Apple’s decision, that there are real bottlenecks in our country when it comes to things like housing, water and energy, and we need to invest.”
(This story has been republished with photo replaced)
