Press release

Global Tax Reform Experts Gather for Dublin Global Tax Policy Conference
Harvard Kennedy School and Irish Tax Institute Lead Conference
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe Addresses Delegates

Dublin Castle, Dublin, Ireland, Thursday, 23 May 2019: Leading tax figures from the European Commission, the US, the OECD, the IMF and the WTO are gathering at Dublin Castle today to discuss the latest in global tax reform, including taxing the digitalised economy.

The Global Tax Policy Conference is co-hosted by the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School and the Irish Tax Institute, and will be attended by policy makers, legislators, members of Government, Revenue authorities, finance ministries and companies from over 30 countries. The attendance also includes experts from global treasury departments, international business organisations, universities, the tax profession and multinational businesses.

The Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr Paschal Donohoe TD, addressed the conference this morning as guest of honour. Welcoming the experts to Dublin, he said “I have consistently said that the challenges we are facing are global and as such they are best addressed by finding a sustainable globally agreed solution.”

“I believe that Ireland’s interest lies first and foremost in this work being successful at ensuring the continuation of a stable consensus-based international tax framework into the future”, the Minister added.

Opening the conference, Irish Tax Institute President Marie Bradley highlighted the intensity and pace of global tax reform, through issues such as BEPS, ATAD and the digitalised economy. “We are in a phase of engagement and development right now on hugely-significant global tax reform. This conference comes at an important time post the OECD consultation on the tax challenges arising from digitalisation of the economy’,” Ms Bradley said.

“The proposals for a consensus-based, long-term solution are not far away and will be issued by the BEPS Inclusive Framework in 2020. The international tax community is eagerly awaiting these and we are very fortunate to have all the key players in tax policy reform from both the
OECD and the European Commission here,” Ms. Bradley continued.

Ms Bradley also recognised the importance of reforming domestic tax policy for Ireland’s indigenous companies, citing the most recent consultations announced by the Department of Finance as a positive step towards improving conditions for SMEs. These consultations include CGT Entrepreneur Relief; Employment and Investment Incentive (EII); Start-Up Refunds for Entrepreneurs (SURE); Start-Up Capital Initiative; and the Key Employee Engagement Programme (KEEP).

Other speakers in the expert line-up include senior tax figures from the European Commission, the IMF, the OECD and the WTO; Revenue authorities from Ireland, New Zealand and the UK; professional service firms; government bodies; and academics.

Topics to be covered over the two days will reflect the latest developments such as US tax reform; BEPS; digitalisation of the economy; customs, tax and trade; tax transparency and data; and tax for a transforming world.