Bibliofemme News
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21/06/2005
Irish government to abolish tax exemption scheme?
According to a report in the Guardian newspaper, the Irish government is in secret talks about abandoning its tax exemption scheme for creative writers.
Those who wish to get rid of the scheme are claiming that tax-avoiding non-Irish writers, including Irving Walsh, Michel Houellebecq and DBC Pierre, are taking advantage of and benefiting from the scheme.
The Arts Council, on the other hand, argues that Ireland faces losing "one of the most enlightened pieces of legislation ever introduced for the arts in any country".
The scheme was set up by then finance minister Charles Haughey in 1969.
According to the Guardian, he told the British thriller writer Frederick Forsyth, who had moved to Ireland when he married an Irishwoman, that his plan was "not so much to bring you bastards in, but to stop the outflow of Irish talent".
Joan Burton of the Irish Labour Party said that 80% of tax-exempt writers and artists earned less than €50,000 a year and needed to be supported.
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