One minute with Andrew Quinn, Global Head of Tax at Maples Group.
What’s keeping you busy at work?
Pillar Two. I enjoy the fact that it is a new area and sometimes you have to make a call on a sensible legal interpretation where there is limited or no guidance. And the fact that Pillar Two has the same set of rules internationally, so we talk the same language as other advisers on multi-jurisdictional matters.
There’s also private credit, where I work alongside US and UK advisers on multiple international credit fund and financing structures involving Irish entities. The global value of the private credit market is US$3.5 trillion today, and Ireland has become a major hub for holding international loan assets.
I am also involved in industry groups, representing the interests of the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories, alongside my Cayman and BVI colleagues.
What do you know now that you wish you’d known at the start of your career?
No one understands your area better than you – and no one is more invested in it than you.
If you could make one change to tax, what would it be?
Reform the Irish tax rules on interest. The current rules are complex, with decades of domestic rules (many from the UK) and now layers of additional OECD and EU legislation. The Irish authorities deserve huge credit for launching a consultation to modernise the rules. It will be a multi-year project, with the first legislative changes expected this year.
What are your views on navigating a changing international tax landscape?
There had been a lot of press suggesting that Pillar Two would collapse. In fact, I think the Side-by-Side agreement means it will settle down. I don’t see the EU giving up on Pillar Two; it is their big success in the international tax field.
I’m also pleased with the EU initiative in 2026 to simplify rules and reduce bureaucracy (their words) in the area of taxation through a new ‘Tax Omnibus’ Directive. The recent Draghi EU report on the future of European competitiveness was an important step. I expect simplification and competitiveness to be key themes of Ireland’s presidency of the EU commencing July 2026.
Any notable developments in the Irish and Luxembourg tax regimes?
Ireland has brought in new rules to promote Ireland as a jurisdiction for international private equity funds. An Irish investment limited partnership fund will now be exempt from Irish dividend withholding tax on payments from an Irish holding company.
Luxembourg has a new carried interest tax regime with either full tax exemption or an 11.5% tax rate depending on the arrangements, which will make Luxembourg increasingly attractive for individuals in the fund management sector.
What are the challenges of leading your organisation’s tax function?
I moved to Maples Group from one of the large Irish law firms. We were one of the first international law firms to enter the Irish market. The group did not have any tax function when I joined, but we’ve since built a legal tax group in Dublin, and we are one of the few international law firms to have Irish and Luxembourg tax advisory practices and tax compliance teams. It has been tough but enjoyable work.
Finally, you might not know this about me but…
I enjoy sea swimming in Dublin’s Forty Foot and Vico Baths year around (please visit if you are in Dublin). I also have Black Coffee’s ‘The Rapture Pt. III’ on repeat at the moment.
One minute with Andrew Quinn, Global Head of Tax at Maples Group.
What’s keeping you busy at work?
Pillar Two. I enjoy the fact that it is a new area and sometimes you have to make a call on a sensible legal interpretation where there is limited or no guidance. And the fact that Pillar Two has the same set of rules internationally, so we talk the same language as other advisers on multi-jurisdictional matters.
There’s also private credit, where I work alongside US and UK advisers on multiple international credit fund and financing structures involving Irish entities. The global value of the private credit market is US$3.5 trillion today, and Ireland has become a major hub for holding international loan assets.
I am also involved in industry groups, representing the interests of the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories, alongside my Cayman and BVI colleagues.
What do you know now that you wish you’d known at the start of your career?
No one understands your area better than you – and no one is more invested in it than you.
If you could make one change to tax, what would it be?
Reform the Irish tax rules on interest. The current rules are complex, with decades of domestic rules (many from the UK) and now layers of additional OECD and EU legislation. The Irish authorities deserve huge credit for launching a consultation to modernise the rules. It will be a multi-year project, with the first legislative changes expected this year.
What are your views on navigating a changing international tax landscape?
There had been a lot of press suggesting that Pillar Two would collapse. In fact, I think the Side-by-Side agreement means it will settle down. I don’t see the EU giving up on Pillar Two; it is their big success in the international tax field.
I’m also pleased with the EU initiative in 2026 to simplify rules and reduce bureaucracy (their words) in the area of taxation through a new ‘Tax Omnibus’ Directive. The recent Draghi EU report on the future of European competitiveness was an important step. I expect simplification and competitiveness to be key themes of Ireland’s presidency of the EU commencing July 2026.
Any notable developments in the Irish and Luxembourg tax regimes?
Ireland has brought in new rules to promote Ireland as a jurisdiction for international private equity funds. An Irish investment limited partnership fund will now be exempt from Irish dividend withholding tax on payments from an Irish holding company.
Luxembourg has a new carried interest tax regime with either full tax exemption or an 11.5% tax rate depending on the arrangements, which will make Luxembourg increasingly attractive for individuals in the fund management sector.
What are the challenges of leading your organisation’s tax function?
I moved to Maples Group from one of the large Irish law firms. We were one of the first international law firms to enter the Irish market. The group did not have any tax function when I joined, but we’ve since built a legal tax group in Dublin, and we are one of the few international law firms to have Irish and Luxembourg tax advisory practices and tax compliance teams. It has been tough but enjoyable work.
Finally, you might not know this about me but…
I enjoy sea swimming in Dublin’s Forty Foot and Vico Baths year around (please visit if you are in Dublin). I also have Black Coffee’s ‘The Rapture Pt. III’ on repeat at the moment.
