Leading Irish painter Ballagh set to sue State over artists’ royalties

LEADING Irish artist Robert Ballagh is to sue the State over its failure to implement an EU directive which would earn artists a percentage when their work is resold.

The 2001 directive guarantees artists a royalty of up to 5% on the resale of their work by auctioneers and other professional dealers.

EU states were to implement it by January 1 last, but the Government is unlikely to pass legislation to comply with it until later this year. In the meantime, no facility exists for artists to claim the royalty.