ActionAid Ireland

Lobbying Organisation ActionAid Ireland

Date published 21 Sep, 2016

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Taxation

Period 1 May, 2016 to 31 Aug, 2016

Specific Details ActionAid Ireland launched a petition on tax treaties with developing countries, directed towards the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan

Intended results Encourage the Minister to ensure that all future tax treaties adopt the UN Model Double Taxation Convention between Developed and Developing Countries (the UN model) as the minimum standard, from which negotiations can begin. Encourage the Minister to ensure that all tax treaties include strong and effective anti-abuse clauses in all double taxation treaties. Encourage the Minister to introduce greater transparency by subjecting tax treaty negotiation, ratification and impact assessments to far greater public scrutiny. Encourage the Minister to review tax treaties across government departments to ensure objectives and potential impacts are in line with One World, One Future and Ireland’s policy coherence for development framework. Encourage the Minister to introduce greater transparency through public Country by Country Reporting.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Olivia Lally, Campaigns and Policy Officer, ActionAid Ireland

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? Yes

What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners? We placed the petition on thepetitionsite.org for members of the public to sign

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (100+)

Online petition directed towards Minister of Finance Michael Noonan in relation to Ireland's tax treaties. ActionAid Ireland developed the petition, hosting it on thepetitionsite.org, where members of the public can include their own message alongside the policy recommendations and sign. When a member of the public signs the petition, it is sent by email to Minister Noonan. The petition was launched on the 29/08/2016

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Michael Noonan Minister (Department of Finance)