Is an award of €13 billion a big win or an embarrassing loss? The European Court of Justice (ECJ) court yesterday said that the European Commission was correct in 2016 when it ruled that Apple owed Ireland €13 billion in tax relating to underpayments during 2003-2014.

The ruling represents a heavy legal defeat for Apple and the Irish Government – and a major win for the EU.

But how did it get to the point that Ireland had to go to Europe to defend a tax arrangement with a multinational?

Irish Times columnist Cliff Taylor explains how a big pay-day for the Government is also a reputational hit, with the court’s clear and final verdict that Ireland broke the rules and offered illegal State aid to Apple. And he looks at how to spend it.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apple tax windfall: How Ireland was forced to take it - and how we should spend it