2. It is declared that—

(a) the arrangements specified in the Protocol, the text of which is set out in the Schedule, have been made with the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany in relation to—

(i) affording relief from double taxation and the prevention from fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, corporation tax in respect of income and chargeable gains, capital gains tax and any taxes of a similar character imposed by the laws of the State or by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, and

(ii) in the case of taxes of any kind or description imposed by the laws of the State or the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany—

(I) exchanging information for the purposes of the prevention and detection of tax evasion,

(II) granting relief from taxation under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany to persons who are resident in the State for the purposes of tax, and

(III) collecting and recovering tax (including interest, penalties and costs in connection with such tax) for the purposes of the prevention of tax evasion,

and

(b) it is expedient that those arrangements should have the force of law.