Ireland is big tech's lapdog – and that compromises its EU presidency
The article argues that Ireland's role as a low-tax hub for big tech companies compromises its ability to lead the European Union objectively during its EU presidency. It suggests that Ireland's close ties to US tech giants undermine the EU's push for digital sovereignty and stricter tech regulation.
Background
Ireland's low corporate tax rate (12.5%) has made it the European headquarters of choice for Apple, Google, Meta, and other US tech giants. This has brought jobs and revenue, but also made the Irish economy heavily dependent on a handful of multinationals. The EU has spent years trying to rein in Big Tech via competition law (fines, antitrust cases), digital regulation (GDPR, Digital Markets Act), and a proposed global minimum corporate tax. Ireland has repeatedly lobbied against or slow-walked these efforts — most famously fighting the EU's order to collect €13bn in back taxes from Apple. In 2026, Ireland holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, which sets the bloc's legislative agenda. Critics argue Ireland cannot credibly lead debates on "digital sovereignty" when its own economic model depends on defending the very companies the EU wants to regulate.