Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan Micheál Martin interview: Ireland will ‘resist’ EU tech tax
Apr 12, 2025
Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Ireland's leader since 2020, shares insights on navigating current economic challenges. He discusses the potential impact of U.S. pharmaceutical decisions on trade negotiations and firmly stands against new EU taxes on U.S. tech firms. Addressing the housing crisis, Martin emphasizes the need for a more aggressive social housing strategy, holding Dublin City Council accountable. He also clarifies his collaboration with independent TDs to ensure government stability, amidst a backdrop of political maneuvering.
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Trade Tensions
- Micheál Martin reflects on the escalating trade tensions between the US, China, and Europe.
- He highlights the unexpected speed and severity of the situation, emphasizing the negative impact of tariffs.
Pharmaceutical Tariffs
- There's uncertainty around pharmaceutical tariffs.
- Martin suspects these will be part of broader US-EU negotiations, potentially impacting medicine prices and access.
Pharmaceutical Lobbying
- Pharmaceutical companies are lobbying for more favorable regulations in Europe, including longer IP exploitation windows.
- They also want streamlined approval processes across member states.