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Betting tax could hit jobs in Dundalk if brought in says Boylesports spokesman Leon Blanche
A NUMBER of the 200-plus employees at Boylesports' headquarters in Dundalk could have their jobs put in jeopardy if a Government plan to tax internet and telephone betting to raise additional funds for Horse Racing Ireland goes through in the coming months.
The proposed move, which would affect all Irish bookmakers, has been heavily criticised by many firms including Paddy Power, whose boss Patrick Kennedy described it as a "charade" that would cost jobs.
The idea of a levy on betting was mentioned by Taoiseach Brian Cowen in early May and could wipe millions off bookmaking firms' annual operating profit.
With Boylesports' headquarters at Finnabair Estate on the Dundalk Inner Relief Road now one of the biggest employers in the area, any loss of jobs would be not only a blow for the popular local bookmaker but also for the local economy.
Speaking about the possible tax, Boylesports spokesperson Leon Blanche told The Dundalk Democrat that keeping jobs should be the Irish Government's primary concern at present.
"What we're striving for is to keep Irish jobs. We're a big employer in Dundalk and we want to keep Irish people employed.
"We're willing to sit down and discuss any possible moves by the government but in these times the most important thing is to keep people employed and that's what we're trying to do.
"If there is a betting tax it has to be specific of separate sports but it is imperative that we do everything to keep Irish jobs because the more people paying tax the better it is for the economy.
"I reckon we've the guts of 250 people in our head office. There are so many departments from the trading floor, to the call centre, to the IT department, the marking department, security and finance people.
"Quite a lot of our staff work between the internet and the call centre. We could have well over 100 in those areas and we don't want to lose any of those jobs," said Leon.
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Thursday 17 May 2012
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