Doing Business & Investing In... IRELAND

John Byrne, a partner in Crowe Horwath’s Ireland office, has over 20 years’ experience in providing practical tax advice tailored to clients’ needs. John acts as taxation partner on a broad range of the firm’s clients, including high net worth individuals and small and medium sized companies. Over the last number of years, John has focused on Irish companies expanding their operations abroad and on international companies setting up in Ireland, providing advice on both the strategic and practical tax issues faced by such companies and their employees.

Q

What more can you tell us about your firm?

We are the representative firm in Ireland of Crowe Horwath International, one of the top ten global networks of independent accounting and advisory services firms, incorporating more than 170 firms with 671 offices in 114 countries around the world.

We have been providing financial, tax, advisory and support services to a diverse range of businesses for over 70 years. Our clients include a mix of international and indigenous Irish

companies,

government departments and agencies, charities, large financial institutions and high net worth individuals.

We pride ourselves in taking the time to fully understand all aspects of our clients’ business. Our in-depth knowledge of the industries we serve enables us to identify the issues our clients face and to provide

48 www.finance-monthly.com Q What makes DOING BUSINESS & INVESTING IN

CROWE HORWATH JOHN BYRNE

“Ireland is a dynamic business location that offers competitive operating costs while also providing high quality services. Ireland continues to invest in its infrastructure and there has been an ongoing level of investment and consolidation in order to create a reliable ICT infrastructure that delivers exceptional quality services to businesses.”

timely, well-informed solutions. Moreover, by

anticipating potential future developments, we also deliver advice that meets our client’s needs - not only for today, but as they continue to grow.

Ireland an attractive investment/business destination?

The success of a business is ultimately determined by the strength of its human capital. The Irish workforce is productive, highly educated and extremely flexible. Our people are our greatest natural resource and the country has an abundance of professional, managerial and technical staff as well as a steady supply of top graduates from our state-of-the-art universities. According to an Economist Intelligence Unit study, Dublin is the best city in the world for human capital.

On a macro level, Ireland is an English-speaking, EU and Eurozone member. Ireland’s EU membership ensures the free movement of goods, people and capital within the EU area to companies established in Ireland.

In addition, Ireland is a dynamic business location that offers competitive operating costs while also providing high quality services. Ireland continues to invest in its infrastructure and there has been an ongoing level of investment and consolidation in order to create a reliable ICT infrastructure that delivers exceptional quality services to businesses. Ireland invariably ranks amongst some of the most competitive business locations.

The stability, simplicity and transparency of our tax system coupled with a number of key incentives ensures its attractiveness to inward investors.

Finally, people living and working in Ireland can enjoy our renowned scenery, a thriving cultural scene, peace of mind, security, and above all, hospitable people.

Q

What policies currently exist in Ireland that benefit business and investment?

Ireland is a progressive and open economy and there is ongoing cooperation between government, industry and universities. IDA Ireland is the government agency responsible for the development of foreign industry and enterprise in Ireland and specialises in assisting companies involved in Research, Development and Innovation, High End Manufacturing and Global Services (including Financial Services).

Grants are available to indigenous companies and to overseas companies setting up in Ireland. The types of grants available include:

• Capital grants • Employment grants • Grants for research and development activities • Training grants

Q

How does Ireland’s tax system fit into the business/investment equation?

Ireland’s progressive taxation system has been

a central element of our industrial policy for decades. We have long been a location of choice