JP McManus’s GAA donations are “incredibly generous” – but society would be better off if he was tax resident in Ireland, according to Shane Coleman.

The Limerick billionaire runs his business empire from Switzerland.

When news of his donation broke yesterday morning, several TDs questioned whether the country would be better off if he paid taxes here instead of choosing his own projects to fund.

Social Democrat TD Jennifer Whitmore said the donations were welcome but argued, “With philanthropy, you get to fund your pet projects”,

She noted that the purpose of taxation is to pay for less PR-friendly things like “sewage, water services, education and health”.

'Incredibly generous'

Shane said the GAA donations are “obviously incredibly generous” adding that Mr McManus “deserves credit” but warned: “I'd prefer if people were tax resident in this country rather than being a tax exile and that they paid their money into [the Exchequer]”.

“Like there is a social contract, we're all part of it, we all pay our taxes and in return, you get various services including money going to the GAA,” he said.

“Like we've all contributed to the GAA as well – not that amount of money obviously because we're not multi-millionaires.

“So look, fair play to him for doing it but I'd still rather if he was tax resident here and paying into the central purse.”

Charity

Fellow presenter Jonathan Healy said Mr McManus has donated around €103 million through his charitable foundation over the last two decades.

“That’s an incredible amount of money and, you know, if you're working across all the county boards in Ireland, that’s 32 county boards and €32 million he is after investing.

“If he paid his taxes and that €32 million went through tax, they would absolutely squander that. It wouldn't go to where it's going now and as a result, the clubs are going to get the benefit.”

JP McManus at Navan Racecourse, 15-12-2019. Image: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Shane said it is too easy to argue that the Government always squanders taxes.

“Sorry, a lot of money goes into hospitals, into paying salaries of teachers, of nurses, of doctors,” he said.

“The point is, we don't get to pick and choose. Most people, the two and a half million people who work in this country, don't get to pick and say, ‘Oh, I think I'll give money here; I'll give money to that club, I'll give money to that hospital’ - that's not how it works.

“There is a social contract and you can criticise Government and say it squanders some money – of course it does and the GAA, no doubt, will squander some of this money.

“But if we don't have that social contract, we don't have a functioning society.”

JP McManus attends the Munster GAA Senior Hurling Championship in Waterford, 02-06-2019. Image: ©INPHO/Oisin Keniry

Jonathan noted that wealthy philanthropists have done a lot of good in Ireland.

“Walk around UCD, walk around DCU, walk around UCC, you see the Chuck Feeney building and you see the Devere building and all these guys, who, if it wasn't for them, those buildings wouldn't be built or those students wouldn't have the opportunities that are there.

“So, there is a place for philanthropy from people who don’t live here.”

Mr McManus has previously insisted that he did not leave Ireland to avoid paying tax – adding that he is proud to be Irish and to be spending money in his homeland.

He noted that if he set up his business abroad but was unsuccessful, he would be considered and emigrant and is only considered an exile because of his success.