The Irish government has reassured the UK, its key ally in the European debate on corporate tax policy, that it played no role in wooing UK multinationals.

Ireland’s department of finance held talks with the UK Treasury last month in response to the announcement by Shire, the pharmaceuticals company, and United Business Media that they were establishing new holding company structures – Jersey-incorporated but tax resident in Ireland, where there are less onerous rules on the treatment of foreign subsidiary earnings.