18/09/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 18 September, the Irish finance minister, Paschal Donohoe TD, confirmed that Dublin had recovered the money owed by Apple, namely €14.3 billion, following the Commission's decision of August 2016 ordering the amount to be recovered on the grounds of a tax ruling that was illegal under EU State aid law (see EUROPE 11612). The US company has paid €13.1 billion, plus interest representing €1.2 billion, into an escrow fund. However, Donohoe reiterates that Ireland “fundamentally disagrees with the Commission's analysis” in this case, which is why Dublin has decided to appeal against it before the General Court of the EU. Ireland considers that the full recovery of the money owed proves that it has always been the government's intention to “comply with its legal obligations”. (LT)