A coalition of 60 prominent university professors and lecturers has issued a formal call for the Irish EU presidency to step back from any legislative discussions concerning tax and digital regulation. In a letter obtained by EUobserver on Wednesday, July 8, the group argued that Ireland possesses a questionable record regarding both the protection of EU digital rights and the maintenance of the bloc’s fiscal base.
The academics highlighted what they describe as a concerningly close relationship between successive Irish governments and Big Tech and other corporate giants. The letter specifically cited the appointment of Niamh Sweeney—a former Meta lobbyist—as a commissioner for the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) last October, a role that positions her as a key figure in European data oversight.
Ireland’s 12.5 percent corporate tax rate remains a central point of contention, as the group argues it is specifically designed to attract large firms looking to minimize their tax liabilities. This policy has led major corporations such as Google, Meta, Apple, Microsoft, OpenAI, TikTok, and X to establish their EU tax domicile in Ireland. Other firms, including Amazon and the Chinese retailer Temu, also utilize the country for tax purposes. Because of this, the Irish data protection regulator effectively acts as a gatekeeper for the entire European Union. The letter also referenced the Irish government’s repeated efforts to appeal a €13bn tax bill originally issued by the EU Commission in 2016.
According to the academics, Ireland’s reliance on non-EU giants creates insurmountable conflicts of interest. They recommended that Lithuania, which is scheduled to assume the presidency in January, should lead the negotiations on the upcoming Tax Omnibus and Digital Omnibus files. These legislative packages, proposed by the European Commission in February, are intended to reduce bureaucratic burdens for businesses but are expected to dominate the Irish presidency’s agenda.
In response, Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin defended his country’s position during a plenary debate in Strasbourg, stating that Ireland intends to act as an honest broker and noting that many member states host a significant number of technology firms. A spokesperson for the Irish presidency reiterated that the office is operating with complete impartiality, focusing on the “One Europe, One Market” roadmap and its digital priorities.
The open letter features signatures from notable scholars, including Shoshana Zuboff of Harvard University, Mariana Mazzucato of University College London, Isabella Weber of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Jason Hickel of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Abeba Birhane of Trinity College Dublin, and Alberto Alemanno of HEC Paris.
