The OECD's global minimum corporate tax rate of 15% and Afghanistan were on the agenda during Emmanuel Macron's visit.
ADVERTISEMENTFrench President Emmanuel Macron says it is for Ireland to decide on whether it joins an international agreement on setting a minimum global corporate tax rate.
Recently, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) agreed to a 15% rate right across the developed world. However, Ireland is determined to hang on to its 12.5%, an issue that has caused some friction between France and Ireland in the past.
But Macron, who was on his first visit to Ireland since entering office, said during a joint press conference with Taoiseach Micheál Martin, that it was a decision for the Irish to make themselves, but he was confident they would eventually sign up to the agreement.
"I do respect the economic model of Ireland during the past decade and I think you delivered tremendous results," the French president said on Thursday. "I think now the situation is quite different. The post COVID world is new...so the situation will probably request some in-depth change in our classical business models...I am confident but I'm not putting pressure on your Taoiseach."
The Northern Ireland protocol was high up on the agenda too, where Macron said that Europe will always have Ireland's back when it comes to the issue of Brexit.
"It [Brexit] is an existential issue for the solidarity and unity of the European Union. So, we will make sure that the agreements signed after very lengthy negotiations will be complied with when it comes to fisheries or some well-known protocols...So, to put it bluntly - we will never let you down," Macron told reporters.