Irish PM Pays A Visit To IoM Euroclub

by Robert Lee, Tax-News.com, London

24 April 2003

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern visited the Isle Of Man last week to give a speech to the Island's Euroclub forum on Irish experiences with the EU and his country's close ties with the jurisdiction, reported Isle of Man Online.

Mr Ahern explained to the 180 guests in his Euroclub address that relations between them had 'moved on' from recent scandals involving Irish citizens using IoM banks in order to avoid domestic taxes, and pointed to progress made in recent draft tax information sharing agreements.

The Taoiseach went on to praise the jurisdiction's tough regulatory regime particularly in relation to crime.

"This is especially the case in relation to combating money laundering, an area in which you have had some notable successes recently. I note also that you have recently signed a bilateral agreement with the USA on the exchange of information on tax matters," commented Ahern.

The Prime Minister explained how membership of the EU had greatly benefited the Irish economy and how the 'benign environment' the EU fostered had been a pivotal factor in Ireland's recent economic success.

Mr Ahern was invited to the Euroclub, a forum for the debate of European issues by Chief Minister Richard Corkhill.

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