Apple ruling prompts demand for Irish parliament recall

LONDON (AA) – Irish lawmakers have demanded a recall of parliament following an EU decision on tax payments in the country by technology giant Apple.

The Irish government has already indicated it will appeal Tuesday’s European Commission ruling that Ireland granted illegal state aid to the company.

Europe’s antitrust commissioner Margrethe Vestager said the technology giant must pay 13 billion euros ($14.5 billion) in back taxes – a decision Apple CEO Tim Cook described as “unprecedented”.

Speaking before a meeting of the Irish cabinet on Wednesday to discuss the ruling, Prime Minister Enda Kenny told reporters: “Obviously this is unprecedented so we're going to have a good discussion about it this morning.

“Clearly it's a finding that's in dispute. There is an arbitrator and that's the European Court [of Justice] at the end of the day.”

During the meeting independent ministers demanded a recall of parliament so that all lawmakers could debate the ruling, state broadcaster RTE reported.

Parliament’s summer recess is not due to end until the end of September.

Apple, known worldwide as the maker of iPhones and iPads, bases much of its European operations in the Irish capital Dublin.

Ireland has a long-established policy of using lower corporate tax rates to attract investment from multinational companies.

The EU country is getting ready to appeal the ruling, Finance Minister Michael Noonan told CNBC on Tuesday, adding he "profoundly" disagreed with the decision.