source: Press Event notice, 19th January 2016

A coalition of 40 Irish Civil organisations are launching the Robin Hood Tax Campaign Ireland, united in the belief that it is time to make Irish financial institutions pay their fair share in tax to help clean up the mess they have helped create, and to help avoid another financial crash happening by curbing speculative trading.

The Nevin Economic Research Institute is estimating a net gain in the range of 320 to 360 million Euro each year from the Financial Transaction Tax to the Irish exchequer. Ten other European countries are about to introduce the tax while the Irish Government is NOT taking this opportunity. The campaign aims to change this Government position and campaigns for Ireland to join the other European countries and introduce a Financial Transaction Tax.

We cordially invite you to the

Launch event of the Robin Hood Tax Campaign

Tuesday 26th January 2016, 10.30 am to 12.30 pm
Oak Room, Mansion House, Dawson St, Dublin 2

Photo opportunity at 12.30 pm

Interviews before and after event available.

Speakers:

• Micheál Collins, Nevin Economic Research Institute, presents his Research paper ‘Estimating the Revenue Yield from a Financial Transactions Tax for Ireland’
• David Hillman, Stamp out Poverty UK, gives an update on European Developments on an FTT
• Anna Visser, Claiming our Future, presents the Robin Hood Tax Ireland Campaign Strategy

Register your interest with Nina Sachau at nina@claimingourfuture.ie, 087 3340698

Further Information: www.robinhoodtax.ie, HASHTAG: #MakeBankersPay

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Irish Civil Society Organisations joining the call for a Robin Hood Tax in Ireland include the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Mandate, UNITE the Union, SIPTU, Trocaire, Christain Aid, Oxfam, Feasta, Cultivate; European Anti Poverty Network, the Irish Naitonal Organisation of the Unemployed, Social Justice Ireland, and the National Women’s Council of Ireland. Full list of coalition members here http://www.robinhoodtax.ie/coalition

The ten Member States involved in bringing forward this Financial Transactions Tax include Germany, France, Greece and Spain. The tax will raise 0.1% on trading in bonds and 0.01% on trading in derivatives. The proposal has been advanced through an ‘enhanced cooperation procedure’. The final agreement, including tax rates, is expected in June 2016. The Irish Government has again failed to opt into the EU enhanced cooperation procedure that obliges financial institutions to pay a tax on bonds, shares and derivatives.

Claiming Our Future is a civil society, non-party political network of people and organisations committed to an Ireland based on the values of equality, environmental sustainability, participation, accountabilty and solidarity.  It is based in 12 Parliament Street, Dublin 2.