EU commissioner Vestager says Apple's Ireland deadline has passed

Margrethe Vestager, the competition commissioner for the European Union, has said that Apple has missed the deadline to pay Ireland $13bn in back-taxes, following last year's ruling from the body.

The commission ruled last year that Ireland had given Apple an unfair tax rate in its dealings in the country, a decision which is facing appeal from both the state and the company.

Speaking with Irish public broadcaster RTE after explaining her hearing in the Oireachtas (the upper chamber of parliament), Vestager denied accusations that the country's tax sovereignty was being breached.

"Obviously it's a very complex thing because it's a lot of money," Vestager said. "The deadline has been passed, but that's not the most important thing. Of course, the important thing for us is to have a constructive cooperation with the Irish authorities in order eventually to get it done."

When Vestager was asked about the allegations that the European body had overstepped its mark on Ireland's sovereignty, she was adamant that they were unfounded.

"A very strong no. We are not a tax authority. We do not interfere with national prerogatives when it comes to taxation, it's purely and solely the member state."

The appeals process from Apple and Ireland is underway, and is likely to take several years to reach its conclusion. Last August the commission found a tax benefit of $13bn had been given to the iPhone maker from the Irish government.

The Department of Finance in the country said that it was complying with the commission so far.

"We are continuing to make progress on the recovery from Apple with the full co-operation of the company and the EU Commission," a spokesperson said.

"The commission are satisfied with the progress we are making. We have committed to complying with the decision and we fully intend doing that."