Thread .. #payyourtaxes #Bono is a poxbottle. Well, now we've got that our system, time to be a bit grownup about @u2 contribution to #Covid_19ireland . 1 ...

First off let's do tax management.
It is an obscenity that the nations of the world allow the super-rich and multinationals to play games to avoid tax.
U2 are not resonsible for this.
We in Ireland have always voted in governments that facilitate this avoidance.

All of @u2 are tax resident in Ireland and pay income tax ( and while I am not privy to the details - obviously- it has to be substantial)
Elements of their business are registered in The Netherlands (not some offshore tax haven), so they pay business tax in the EU.

Sure this is "tax-efficient", and brings us back to the question, of why such tax-efficiency is allowed by our governments. There is a hint in the name, The Music Business, after all.

As regards what happened with China and Korea, what kind of a bellend would not welcome the offer of 10 Mill and a way to open doors to get vital gear to protect our front line medical staff?
Have you not seen the cut-throat world-wide scramble to acquire this equipment?

Have you not seen how Trump is using supplies of PPE, ventilators etc as a form of political power in the US?
How the fuck do you think a little country like Ireland is going to compete with the USA, UK etc for this gear?
Do you realise that major nations cannot meet their needs?

So, against the odds, and using whatever means they had @u2 and several other #Irish companies, delivered a plane load of vital gear last week, with an even larger plane full being planned. This is not a small deal. This will save lives of our medical staff.

I have known @u2 for many years, am not a close part of their circle, but can't imagine for a second they did this for publicity. They were asked to do something for the country and they did it is spades. So really, save the fucking begrudgery for another day.