The Taoiseach has said that while he will be as constructive as possible in discussions with EU colleagues, he will make it clear that Ireland's 12.5% corporate tax rate is not up for negotiation.
Enda Kenny was responding in the Dáil to questions from Opposition TDs about the efforts to renegotiate the EU/IMF deal.
Mr Kenny is due to attend a summit of European Union leaders on Thursday and Friday in Brussels where he will face pressure on the tax rate.
France and Germany want to see the rate increased in return for offering concessions to Ireland on its financial support deal from the EU.
Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams said the deal will 'sink' Ireland if it is not changed.
Mr Adams asked the Taoiseach why the Government would follow through on what they already said was a bad deal.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said plans to change the structure of the EU bailout fund had been under way since before the election and it was wrong to suggest the changes were a result of the change of Government.
Mr Martin said it was 'dishonourable to overspin what is being spun'.
In response the Taoiseach said he detected that there appears to be suspicion of Ireland, despite its record of being supportive of Europe.
Mr Kenny denied a suggestion from Richard Boyd Barrett of the United Left Alliance that the Government was 'backing away' from its pre-election demand for a renegotiation of the deal.
He said the Government had made it perfectly clear that what it wants is a change in the package.
Dáil debates 12.5% tax rate
The Dáil debated a Fianna Fáil motion supporting the 12.5% rate, which was supported by Sinn Féin.
Mr Martin said he was introducing the motion because the Dáil should re-affirm the broad political consensus of the need to retain Ireland's current corporate tax regime.
He said a small number of people in some other countries have become obsessed about the tax rate, but said the Government should not make any gestures to satisfy foolish and ill-founded negotiating positions of a handful of countries.
Minister of State Brian Hayes said any move to harmonise company taxes across the EU would substantially damage Ireland's ability to attract foreign direct investment and in turn damage Ireland's economic recovery.
Mr Kenny also told the Dáil that there are no proposals to sell State forestry company Coillte.
He was responding to Mr Adams, who expressed concern about reports that the company was to be sold off.
