The Irish Government intends to appeal against the European Commission’s recommendation that Apple pay $13 billion (£11bn) in back taxes to it.
Irish authorities cut a sweetheart deal with the American tech giant which enabled it to pay a maximum of one per cent corporation tax.
Corporation tax for other businesses in Ireland is set at 12.5 per cent.
The ruling that Apple received preferential treatment amounting to illegal state aid followed a three-year probe into the way in which the firm channels its European sales through Ireland.
Apple immediately said it plans to appeal the decision and the Irish government has now followed suit, afraid that the Silicon Valley firm could move its European base abroad.
Its Cabinet had struggled to agree whether it should appeal or accept the huge cash windfall.
However after reconvening for half an hour on Friday, it decided to appeal.
“A motion will come before the Dail (parliament) on Wednesday seeking an endorsement of that decision,” said a government spokesman.
If any appeals prove unsuccessful, the Irish government will then set the exact amount Apple would have to repay.
Apple chief executive Tim Cook is “very confident” the ruling will be overturned and called the European Commission’s ruling “maddening” and “political”.
Irish finance minister Michael Noonan said he “disagrees profoundly” with the EC ruling.
The Commission found that Apple paid around one per cent tax on its European profits in 2003 and just 0.005% in 2014.
Apple has cash reserves of more than $200bn (£153bn).
Smart invoicing start-up DueCourse has recruited a former Apple engineer as part of a major recruitment drive.