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TAOISEACH ENDA KENNY has said that he did not raise a US Senate committee’s claim that Ireland is a tax haven with President Barack Obama during discussions at the G8 summit in Lough Erne this week.

Ireland’s tax regime has been the focus of international attention in the wake of a claim from a US senate committee last month that Apple had negotiated an effective tax rate of two per cent with the Irish government – a claim subsequently denied by Ireland in a letter to the committee.

High-profile senators Carl Levin, Democrat, and John McCain, Republican, have continued to insist that Ireland’s meets a “common-sense definition of a tax haven”.

Though the Irish government denies this Kenny did not raise the issue with Obama this week.

Responding to a question from TheJournal.ie, he said: “No, clearly from an American point of view, the American administration can change their tax laws if they wish, as has been pointed out on many occasions before.”

Taoiseach: Ireland wants to be part of G8 tax evasion plan, defends corporate tax rate

Read more of TheJournal.ie’s coverage from the G8 in Lough Erne >