Stanley Hits Out At Household Charge

Commenting on the threat of legal action against people who have not paid the Household Charge, Sinn Féin Local Government spokesperson Brian Stanley TD said the charge is both unfair and a failure in terms of revenue-raising and should be abolished.

He said: "The threat of legal action against hundreds of thousands of people for non-payment of the Household Charge only goes to show what a massive failure this unfair charge has been. The Local Government Management Agency, at the behest of Minister Phil Hogan, is now attempting to frighten people into paying by sending further warning letters and raising the prospect of legal action. How much is it going to cost to haul such a huge number of people before the courts?


"This unjust charge has been a complete failure in terms of revenue raising, yet the Fine Gael/Labour government has made local government dependent upon it, fully realising that major cuts in services will result.

"The Household Charge should be abolished once and for all and a fair taxation strategy put in its place, ensuring that those on higher incomes pay their proper share and that real wealth is taxed."

(CD/GK)