That U2 keep a large proportion of their business offshore to avoid paying their taxes is not news. The massive rock group moved their publishing arm to Holland in 2006, directly after a very sensible government move to limit the amount of earnings that could remain untaxed under artist exemptions at €250,000.
Unfortunately, it's taken the dire state of the country's financial situation to get the public riled about this. Before the recession U2 could keep all the money they wanted, sure aren't they a great bunch o' lads, what with all the good work that Bono does for charity. The stench of hypocrisy off the whole situation apparently only hit the public after the recent disintegration of the rest of our tax payer dollars (euros just doesn't have the same ring, does it?).
As such, yesterday members of the Debt and Development Coalition Ireland (DDCI) gathered outside Department of Finance to voice their concerns. The coalition, which contains charitable organisations like Trocaire and Oxfam, has clearly had enough of Bono's double standards. DDCI representative, Nessa Ni Chasaide, says, "U2 is just one part of the problem. This is a much wider and systemic problem in our global financial system."
U2 have yet to comment on the protests, but tomorrow's Irish Times supplement, The Ticket, will feature an interview which probes their position on the subject.