Apple CEO Tim Cook says the company has no special 2% tax rate in Ireland.

Speaking at the "All Things Digital D-10" conference in the US, Mr. Cook moved to clarify reports that the tech giant had negotiated a special deal with the Irish government.

Ireland was labelled a tax haven by observers after Mr. Cook appeared before a US Senate hearing last week. A US Senate report said the iPhone maker avoided paying tax by setting up companies in Ireland which paid little or no tax on sales of the company's products outside America.

The report by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations said Apple had agreed tax a rate of just 2% with the Irish government. That is well below the corporation tax rate of 12.5%.

In a statement the company says it does not use tax gimmicks. Apple employs 4,000 people at its European headquarters in Cork.

Mr. Cook denied there was any such deal.

Speaking last week, The Taoiseach criticised much of the commentary around the Irish corporate tax rate. Enda Kenny said the comment was "ill-informed and misrepresented". He added that there was no possibility of individual tax rate deals for companies.

Business group IBEC has welcomed the clarification, saying Ireland's corporation tax regime is "applied in a consistent and transparent manner".

IBEC Chief Economist Fergal O'Brien said "Ireland's corporation tax system remains a key part of our economic policy. It has resulted in substantial job creation over many decades, with the establishment of high quality enterprises. It is essential that Government continues to support a competitive business tax regime, while contributing to a coordinated international effort to deliver a 21st century tax system for multinational businesses."