Despite these tax-avoidance shenanigans, I think they do pay tax in Ireland, just a ridiculously small amount.

http://www.theguardian.com/business/ireland-business-blog-wi...

Oh they do pay some taxes, but rather insignificant amount when compared to the billions they launder thru' here.

And not just Google I believe Apple laundered north of 50 billion and only have a handful of employees here http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/29/business/apples-tax-strate...

As a small business owner it sickens me with how these large companies can get away with so much here, ok granted they are creating jobs (badly needed) and have other positive effects on a sinking economy but having Revenue put a blind eye on these shenanigans while making life miserable for small companies is unfair.

Having "only a handful of employees" is hardly creating jobs. And Apple is a notorious example of a company that doesn't actually reinvest most of the money they avoid paying in taxes, they just sit on enormous cash reserves (reinvestment is often used as an excuse for tax breaks and tax holidays here in the US).

Apple's one of the largest employers in Cork, and Google's headcount in Ireland is measured in the thousands.