Tax exemption status of artists may be changed

The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, John O'Donoghue, today indicated that the tax-free exemption for writers and performers was unlikely to be altered at the next budget.

There has been growing expectation that high earners such as U2, Westlife, Roddy Doyle and Maeve Binchy could suffer financially if the 36-year-old exemption is abolished.