In late 2011, the then finance minister Michael Noonan unveiled a new tax break for highly paid executives.  In his Budget speech, Noonan said the Special Assignee Relief Programme (Sarp) would “allow multinational and indigenous companies to attract key people to Ireland so as to create more jobs and to facilitate the development and expansion of businesses in Ireland”. It was a different time. Ireland was financially crippled. The country had entered into a bailout just one year before and was endeavouring to bolster industry through any means possible.  The Government argued that if it could entice well-heeled decision-makers to…

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