EU stallion tax query delay

THE Department of Finance admitted last night that the European Commission sought further clarification on the stallion tax exemption earlier this month, despite Finance Minister Brian Cowen telling the Dáil yesterday that there had been no communication from the EU since last summer.

A spokesman for Finance confirmed to the Irish Examiner that the Commission had indeed written to the department on January 6 of this year.

However, because of an “administrative error” the department only learned of the letter late yesterday afternoon, after queries were raised by the Irish Examiner.