Madam, – I belong to a fledgling opera company in Cork which is made up of young music graduates, musicians and singers. We were formerly part of Opera 2005, which was very successful during Cork’s Year of Culture and produced a number of acclaimed performances in Cork Opera House and beyond, as well as running an outreach programme for a number of schools.
In 2008 our Arts Council funding was withdrawn, so a number of us founded Cork Operatic Society to endeavour to continue producing operas, although on a far more modest budget.
Our production of Candide in Cork Opera House last year was much acclaimed. This year we hope to produce another opera, yet with our finances so strained this may prove insurmountable.
When I read that Bertie Ahern is to qualify for tax exemption under the artists’ tax exemption scheme, I have to ask myself: what sort of crazy country are we living in? I thought this scheme was designed to help young struggling creative artists not to further feather-bed cossetted and pampered retired politicians.
The exemption could save Bertie Ahern about €40,000. This amount, or even €24,000, would go a long, long way with a company such as ours. It would give us the means to offer our members the kind of coaching and experience without which no talent can develop and flourish. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – To answer Partick O’Byrne’s question (January 12th), the reason people are annoyed over Bertie Ahern’s tax exemption is that he was responsible for the tax breaks that led to the ruin of the Irish economy.
He has already received a high salary and pension for what he did while in office, and is now receiving a tax break in order to tell us all about it.
At a time when there is a massive tax shortfall and extra taxes are being taken from nurses, gardaí, low-paid workers and essential frontline employees, why should anyone with other sources of income get tax breaks for writing books or composing songs? Perhaps the Equality Authority could take note and campaign for equal tax treatment for all citizens. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – You report that the publishers of Bertie Ahern’s book (January 6th) claim that it gives “the truth behind the man who is Bertie”, which is indeed a very desirable encomium for any autobiography.
But how can this assessment be reconciled with the Revenue Commissioners’ criterion that a work be “original and creative” in order to qualify for tax exemption?
Will they also grant tax exemption to the ghost writer who actually wrote the book? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I would like to see Bertie Ahern forgo the exemption from tax on earnings from his memoir, a small gesture in the direction of the common good.
However, given that almost until the day he was forced from office, Mr Ahern insisted he would take a gross salary increase of €38,000 – presumably because “I’m worth it” – even though, as Taoiseach, he must have had figures available to him showing that we could not afford such rises, I cannot think it likely that he will have the grace to make even that small gesture. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – It is hard to believe that the author of our present economic crisis is now also one of our tax-free authors. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – With regard to the granting of tax free status to Bertie Ahern on his earnings from his autobiography, based on its original and creative merits, was it his submission to the Mahon tribunal that got it over the line? – Yours, etc,