Advertisement

Bono says U2 worked for IDA during recession

Bono has claimed U2 worked for the IDA during the recession as the band wanted to help Ireland. T...
Newstalk
Newstalk

17.38 30 Oct 2014


Share this article


Bono says U2 worked for IDA du...

Bono says U2 worked for IDA during recession

Newstalk
Newstalk

17.38 30 Oct 2014


Share this article


Bono has claimed U2 worked for the IDA during the recession as the band wanted to help Ireland. The singer said the band had wanted to help attract foreign direct investment as a way of giving back to the country “that has been so good to us and that we love.”

Bono made the remarks in an interview with Hot Press magazine and said that the band decided to work for the IDA, as they felt they “could be useful” in terms of getting “more companies to come to Ireland.” “So we went to work for the IDA. And I do, I still do,” Bono said.

Bono has previously played a role in attracting investment into Ireland, including influencing Google in their decision to move its international headquarters to Ireland in 2004.

Advertisement

Ireland and Switzerland were vying to be the venue for the new Google headquarters and Bono made an effort to sell Ireland to key figures in the decision making process, including now Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg.

"Bono came in to Google to give a talk in 2004 after being asked by Sheryl Sandberg," according to one source quoted by the Irish Independent in 2011. 

"He also met with the founders and about 10 managers at a lunch in Dublin."

The IDA has previously said it “benefitted from working with Bono” on marketing campaigns aimed at attracting US corporate investment.

Bono also told Hot Press that he feels it is “intellectually absurd” for people to criticise U2’s tax arrangements while Ireland benefits from its own tax regime structures.

“You’re either into it or you’re not into it. Is it right or wrong? The real hypocrisy is saying ‘it’s fine for the country, but it’s not fine for U2 to think like that’. That doesn’t add up,” he said.


Share this article


Read more about

News

Most Popular