Opposition to household charge grows following Limerick meeting
Clare Daly and Cian Prendiville at the anti-household charge meeting
HUNDREDS of people from a variety of different backgrounds across Limerick have told the government: We will not pay the household charge.
More than 350 people were at the Clarion Hotel this week for a public rally organised by the Campaign Against the Household and Water Tax movement.
And according to one of the organisers of the event, Cian Prendiville, around 150 people have become fully paid up members (€5) of the campaign, with a further 150 people expressing an interest.
There was anger in the room at the controversial €100 charge, which the government claims will pay for local services.
However, the campaign disagree, and believe the pre-registration process which the government wants people to engage in is an exercise designed to gather people’s details so they can introduce further taxes in future.
Clare Daly, one of only nine Dail deputies who have vowed not to pay the charge, addressed the meeting, which was also attended by former mayor Joe Harrington.
Speaking to the Limerick Leader, Mr Prendiville said the attendance sent out a strong message to the Fine Gael-Labour coalition.
“Not a single elected local politician was there to my knowledge. That speaks for itself. We have shown everyone that the tax they are trying to bring in will not be accepted, and there will be mass opposition to it,” he said.
Former Mayor of Limerick, Joe Harrington was one of those who attended the meeting: “Just like with the water tax before, which I was involved in fighting, if we stick together and refuse to pay, we can make these taxes uncollectable,” he said.
Mary O’Donnell of Garryowen said she will not be paying the charge: “We are not looking for people to be on their own. We are looking for people to stick together here. We have a proud history in this city of fighting and winning.”
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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Comments
There are 7 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Paddymog
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 08:53 PMBWRA - who do you think pays for maintenance of all the Corporation houses tenanted by the unemployable in this city - repairs on a scale that beggars belief, demented gorrillas wouldn't wreck houses the way they do because someone else picks up the tabs. Who do you think pays expenses to the City Councillors to attend meetings and conferences. Who do you think pays for all the things that are vandalised, burnt, broken and smashed by the low-lifes who live in this city Who pays for the horse catching, dog control etc? Who pays for the fire brigade to attend all the burnt-out houses and cars? YOU.
BWRA
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 05:47 PMWhy should we pay? What services are being offered in return? NONE!!! There is nothing wrong with paying a tax that is intended to deliver a service and will give value for money - and the best time to introduce them is during times of prosperity. But we didn't increase taxes during the boom, we reduced them! Now we are being asked to pay for the stupidity and mis-management others so that we can pay a debt that is not ours. DON'T REGISTER - DON'T PAY!
limericklady
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 03:52 PMThis so called campaign is little more than a publicity effort on behalf of failed local election candidate Cian Prendiville & his buddies. They will be onto something else for publicity next week.
Humpty dumpty
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 01:10 PMProud history of winning..What exactly?
Humpty dumpty
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 01:08 PMAs if they are going to make a blind bit of difference. Just pay the damn charge..No way around it.
Paddymog
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 12:28 PM"We have a proud history in this city of fighting and winning.â ...what rabble-rousing clap-trap. What about Ferenka, Krups, Dell, Wang, Atari....Limerick lost all those ones. The only thing we have earned a name for ourselves in is fighting, stabbing and shooting one another. These local charges have to be paid, because we expect local services. Mayour Jim Schlong will host Terry Wogan on our behalves very soon - someone has to pay for the cheese and wine. Gormley the duckhead did away with three quarters of local government income with his emissions-based car tax regime, ratepayers are a dying breed, so the money for the junkets has to come from somewhere. People can be such short-sighted eejits... paddy
maryjfogg
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 12:16 PMWhy all the fuss !! 100 euros p.a. !! Wish that was all we had to pay .Our Council Tax is over £200 a month and we are on a fixed pension . Money for local services has to come from somewhere . The problem in Ireland (I'm Irish by the way ) is that you have had all these services free of charge for so long that it is painful to have to start paying even if it is only a tiny amount . For too long the country has lived beyond it's means subsidised heavily by the EU . The result of that is the horrendous financial state the country is now in . For years I have wondered how the Irish could afford their extremely high living standards and welfare benefits etc and forecast it couldn't last - now I,m being proved right . There' s nothing for free in this world - if you don't pay someone else has to . Sorry ,NO SYMPATHY ON THIS ONE
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