Former mayor of Limerick joins campaign against household charge
22/1/2008 Over1200students and 42 PhDs students were conferred this week during the University of Limerick Winter Conferring Ceremonies. Graduating on Tuesday were James Harrington, Newport, who was conferred with a MSc Nursing-Psychosocial Intervention in Mental Health Care pictured with his father Joe Harrington. Picture: Liam Burke/Press 22
FORMER Mayor of Limerick Joe Harrington has joined the campaign against the household charge, calling for mass non-payment of the €100 levy.
And Mr Harrington described as “alarmist” recent media coverage that fines of up to €2,500 could be deducted from pay packets and welfare cheques for those who refuse to pay, saying “such legislation does not even exist at this time”.
“The government fear the potential for mass non-payment. The number of people who have registered so far is very low and must have them worried. It is quite amazing that the government is willing to consider forcibly deducting fines from the poor and from ordinary people but has treated rich developers and bankers with total deference,” said Mr Harrington.
Cian Prendiville, another member of the local Campaign Against the Household and Water Taxes, cited the comments of Fingal County Council’s finance director Pat Keane that the charge would be of no additional benefit to local authorities and would merely shore up the local government fund.
“This confirms that the household tax is to pay for the bailout and is simply another austerity measure on ordinary people,” Mr Prendiville said.
The campaign is to hold a rally at the Clarion Hotel on Monday, January 30 (8pm), making the case for non-registration and non-payment of the charge.
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