International online gambling sites will be forced to pay tax on Irish bets, under Opposition proposals revealed today.

THE majority of the country’s sporting fraternity was breathing a sigh of relief last night after escaping the worst of the budget’s cuts.

FEARS that yesterday’s Budget would deliver another serious blow to the Irish Greyhound Industry proved well founded when Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan announced that the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund for 2010 will be €59.264m, a reduction of 13% on this year’s allocation.

A seven per cent cut in prize money is one of the measures announced by Horse Racing Ireland following a reduction in funding to the racing industry.

FERGUS FINLAY (Irish Examiner, Nov 11) took the opportunity to criticise the Minister for Finance in the weeks coming up to the budget.

By Fergus Finlay