THE Labour Party has hit back at criticism of its proposal to cut property tax by 15 per cent as part of its campaign for the Local and European Elections.
Brian McDonagh, one of Labour’s candidates in the Howth-Malahide ward, was responding to criticism from Cllr Mary Fitzpatrick (FF), who described the plans as a further insult to homeowners.
Cllr Fitzpatrick, who has been chosen as Fianna Fail’s candidate in the Dublin constituency for the European Elections, said Labour supported the introduction of Fine Gael’s
“unfair and anti-Dublin property tax
?.
“Labour conspired to conceal the full impact of the property tax by first introducing it as a six-month charge,
? she said.
“They encouraged homeowners in Dublin to pay the Local Property Tax by falsely promising them that 80 per cent of their money would be spent on services in their local area.
“Labour then facilitated the raiding of the more than e100 million Local Property Tax collected in Dublin to fund the super expensive, super quango Irish Water.
“Now they have the brass neck to try and fool the people of Dublin that they are on their side and if re-elected they will reduce the charge by 15 per cent.
?
Cllr Fitzpatrick said a 15 per cent reduction of the Local Property Tax would be meaningless for homeowners in Dublin where property prices increased by 16 per cent in 2013 and
“due to the Government’s failure to tackle the housing crises
? will continue to rise.
“This latest Labour
‘promise’ highlights their desperation and disconnection from reality,
? she added.
Mr McDonagh admitted that he has
“some difficulties
? with the manner in which Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Phil Hogan, implemented details of the property tax.
“However, I find it hard to stand by while Labour take criticism from someone who stands for a party that did a deal with the Troika to introduce the property tax in the first place,
? he told Northside People.
“A Troika that was here as a result of a property bubble-driven economic implosion. A deal done as a result of a collapse that had, at its root, a bubble caused by developer-led planning, and an unhealthy relationship between Fianna Fail and the construction industry.
“This is typical of Fianna Fail opposition tactics – acting as if the past never happened in a cynical attempt to win votes.
?
Mr McDonagh said he was refusing to take Cllr Fitzpatrick’s stance seriously given her own party’s complete turnaround on the issue.
“Whatever happens, I think people will want to avoid a return to Fianna Fail-run local authorities,
? he added.