European Commission agrees to find ways to support Irish horse breeding

THE European Commission has agreed to work with the Irish Government to find a way to continue support for the horse-breed industry but which does not break state-aid rules.

The industry, which employs about 20,000 people and was worth €180 million in exports last year, has been tax free for the past 25 years.

Now following complaints from Britain and Italy the European Commission carried out an initial investigation that found its tax-exemption status was a form of State-aid.