Household tax campaigners in non-payment vow
Dublin People 27 Dec 2011
A SOCIALIST Party activist has vowed to mobilise support on the
Northside for the mass non-payment of the controversial
?¬100 household tax.
Following a launch meeting in Baldoyle of the Campaign Against Household
& Water Taxes, Brian Greene pledged to build the campaign road by road in
Dublin North East.
Mr Greene, who will be heading the regional branch of the countrywide
campaign, which will include the Baldoyle, Howth and Donaghmede areas, said he
and his fellow activists are prepared to
“fight fire with fire
? when they take
on the Government this year.
There has been speculation that if a householder refuses to pay the tax,
the Government could potentially deduct unpaid charges or fines for lack of payment
from social welfare payments or an individual’s wages.
However, Mr Greene, a veteran campaigner against the water and bin
charges, warned that he and his fellow campaigners would employ a
“dirty tricks
campaign
? if the Government goes down that route.
“You can be assured that all these moves from the Government will be met
with tactics similar in kind,
? he told Northside People.
“The unjust tax will be defeated by mass non-payment.
“Starting this month, a non-payment campaign will be built road by road,
door by door with window posters, car stickers and campaign membership being
delivered to estates across the Northside.
“For me and many others like me, we are not going to pay this tax and if
a court and judge rules that we should be further penalised financially, then
so be it.
?
According to Mr Greene, the principle and motivation behind the campaign
is not to oppose the payment of the
?¬100 fee but to oppose further charges in
the years to come.
“This is about the bedding down of a double taxation that will
inevitably rise over the years,
? he stated.
“All this legislation for household tax is only for a two-year period.
“The suspicion is that this is just an exercise in getting people
registered and on a billing system for when further charges, such as water and
property taxes, are introduced at a cost of
?¬1,500 to the householder.
?
At the root of Mr Greene’s opposition to the household tax is his belief
that the tax should be
“fair and equitable
? rather than a blanket fee imposed
on all householders.
“I urge people who oppose this tax to get involved in the
campaign,
? he added.
“In unity there is strength. While the Government left us with no
options on the Universal Social Charge, the VAT increase or education cuts, on
the household tax we have an option. Together we can force this Government to
scrap this tax on people’s homes.”
Howth Malahide ward councillor Cian O’Callaghan (Lab) is also opposed to
the household tax on the grounds that it is a
“deeply unjust, regressive and
unfair
?.
“It will take money directly out of household budgets,
? said Cllr
O’Callaghan.
“This in turn will hit the hard pressed local retail sector and could
cost jobs.
“The tax while set at
?¬100 for 2012 could mushroom to an average of
?¬1,000 in property and water taxes within a few years.
?
Cllr O’Callaghan said over 120 public meetings across the country have
already taken place as part of this campaign.
“Only a mass campaign of people power boycotting this tax can stop it in
its tracks,
? he added.
Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, said the Bill on the household
charge would generate
?¬160 million that would be passed down to local authorities
for vital services in communities.
“It is essential, if we want to continue to have the level of local
services we expect, such as fire and emergency services, well maintained
streets, public parks, waste services, libraries, open spaces and leisure
facilities, that we provide the necessary financial resources to pay for them,
?
Minister Hogan stated.
“I understand that the introduction of the household charge, even though
modest at less than the equivalent of
?¬2 a week, represents an additional cost
for homeowners so I have provided in the Bill that it may be paid in a number
of instalments.
“I have also introduced provisions in the Bill to protect vulnerable
groups in society by providing a waiver for those on mortgage interest
supplement and those residing in certain unfinished housing estates.
?
At the end of the year, it was reported that the Government would be
fast-tracking a property tax to replace the household charge. This would be
established on a graduated basis rather than a flat charge.
It’s believed that an expert group will report back to Minister Hogan by
April.
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