From what I hear the Irish goverment came down hard on Brookfield about loads of contractors not paying tax and them not knowing where they were operating from and so forth.
and so in an over reaction to save them getting anymore hassle from the irish inland revenue they have bought out the use our accountant or dont have a job method, that way they know everyone is taking care of there affairs and they get zero hassle.
the contract is probably illigal and a compleate rip off, but as everyone needs a job people are sadly still signing!
I think the only way to sort it is to have an accountant look at it on your behalf and then spend some effort to claw the money back from the inland revenue as an incorrectly filed tax return, long winded and means the guy brookfield recommend will still get his 3%, but hey, you might get some back.