Bertie stirs up artists’ ire over tax status

BERTIE AHERN can now add the Irish artistic community to the growing list of those angered at the former taoiseach’s shameless pursuit of money.

On Saturday the Aosdána General Assembly, which comprises Ireland’s leading figures in the creative arts, passed a pointed motion stating that the group “deplores some of the recent tax exemptions granted to the authors of books”. It also called for the introduction of new artist tax exemption guidelines that were “in accordance with the spirit of the act”.

The motion, which was passed unanimously, was proposed by renowned author Anthony Cronin and seconded by independent Dublin city councillor and playwright Mannix Flynn.

The motion follows controversy over Mr Ahern seeking, and being granted, an artist tax exemption for his ghost written autobiography Bertie.

Mr Cronin has urged the Arts Council to complete a review of guidelines for the Revenue Commissioners which would help restrict tax exemption to works of genuine artistic merit.

Mr Cronin was an adviser for the initial establishment of the artists' exemption scheme, but has stated that many of the works which were now qualifying for exemption were “rubbish”, and he said Mr Ahern’s recent autobiography, written by English historian Richard Aldous, was “an example of how ridiculous the whole thing has become”.

In January Mr Ahern was among 69 additions to the list of tax-free artists including 33 writers, 18 painters, five playwrights and scriptwriters, three musicians, three installation artists, three photographers, two sculptors and one illustrator.

Publisher Random House is believed to have paid Mr Ahern a substantial advance for the book.

However, despite an expensive publicity campaign, the book is estimated to have sold less than 20,000 copies.

At the weekend it also emerged that Mr Ahern is now seeking a $50,000 (€37,000) fee plus first class flights and accommodation for international speaking agreements.

His Washington Speakers Bureau agency also states that he is available for engagements during days the Dáil is sitting.

Up until 2006 the Irish artists' tax exemption scheme was unique in the world for allowing artists to keep every cent of their earnings, though they did pay PRSI. An earnings cap of €250,000 was introduced in 2006 and last December’s budget reduced the cap to €125,000.