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The Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe TD, today (Friday) notes the European Commission’s decision to lodge an appeal with the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) challenging the judgement of the General Court of the European Union (GCEU) in the Apple State aid case.

The facts of the case, as established by the GCEU, demonstrate, as Ireland has always contended, that no State aid was given and that the Irish branches of the relevant Apple companies paid the full amount of tax due in accordance with the law. An appeal to the CJEU must be on a point, or points, of law. This appeal process could take up to two years to complete.

Ireland has always been clear that the correct amount of Irish tax was paid and that Ireland provided no State aid to Apple. Ireland appealed the Commission Decision on that basis and the judgement from the General Court of the European Union vindicates this stance.

The funds in Escrow will only be released when there has been a final determination in the European Courts on the validity of the Commission’s Decision.

The Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe T.D., stated that,

I note the decision of the European Commission to lodge an appeal to the CJEU.. Ireland has not yet been served with formal notice of the appeal. When it is received, the Government will need to take some time to consider, in detail, the legal grounds set out in the appeal and to consult with the Government’s legal advisors, in responding to this appeal.