There are calls from the US for the Irish corporate tax rate to remain at 12.5%.

A conference in Dublin this afternoon will discuss the issue, with speakers from the group Americans for Tax Reform - along with banking and accountancy specialists from Ireland.

The organisers say the event comes amid international pressure on Ireland, as well as a debate in the US, on penalties for American companies that file their taxes here.

They say the meeting will compare the challenges faced by Ireland and the US in implementing what they are describing as 'free market' and 'pro-growth tax policies'.

Ryan Ellis is the tax policy director with Americans for Tax Reform group.

He says that some US companies do business in Ireland in order to escape the high rates of tax in the States.

He also believes that now is a good time to encourage this conversation in Ireland.