It is time for some European Union member states to change their tax models to ensure better solidarity in Europe, according to a French MEP.
Alain Lamassoure is leading a delegation of the European Parliament looking at Ireland's corporate tax rate.
The special tax committee is investigating countries accused of, or suspected of, creating tax rulings for multinationals including Ireland, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the UK and Belgium.
The delegation will meet Finance Minister Michael Noonan, the Irish Tax Institute, the Revenue Commissioners and the Oireachtas Finance Committee over the matter in Dublin today.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Lamassoure said everybody understands Ireland's corporate tax is relatively low at 12.5%.
However, he said it is unacceptable the possibility that Ireland, and other member states, allow the richest multinational companies to avoid almost any tax.
Mr Lamassoure said tax models like this could work previously, but they now need to be changed.
He said that it is time to update tax models in some EU member states to ensure that tax competition among us is fair, healthy and transparent.
He said: "What we observe now is that certain member states manage to attract, not only activities but tax base from some of their partners in favour of their national budget.
"So, they somehow steal money from the taxpayers of their partners in favour of their taxpayers.
"It could operate ten years ago but now in this time of more solidarity is necessary."
As Ireland's tax rate has been the target of politicians and governments across Europe for some time, the MEP said the committee is keen to know more about Ireland's set-up and will report back to EU member states after their meeting today.
