Back the bill to end household tax

[Saoirse go Deo]

Dáil to vote on bill to scrap household charge

Soon the Dáil will vote on a Sinn Féin bill to scrap the household charge.

Sinn Féin has campaigned against the Household Charge since it was first mentioned because it is unfair and penalises people on low and middle incomes.

Whether you’re on a pension, disability, social welfare or a regular wage you would pay the same as a millionaire or a government minister.

Many struggling households just don’t have the money to pay this charge. On 31 March this year, people showed what they felt about it when nearly a million households had not paid by the deadline.

Sinn Féin has put forward fair alternatives to this stealth tax. A third rate of tax of 48% for those earning over €100,000 would raise more than twice the €160 million expected to be raised by this unjust charge.
Trade unions back move to scrap household charge

Sinn Féin is calling on all those opposed to the household charge with their residents groups, trade unions and campaign groups to support the bill to abolish the household charge. Already Unite and Mandate trade unions as well as the Dublin Council of Trade Unions are backing the Sinn Féin bill to scrap the household charge.

This bill gives you the first opportunity to force government TDs into reversing this unfair Household Charge. Ensure your TD votes in favour of the bill to scrap the charge on 20 June 2012.

To show your support:

• Contact your local TDs and demand they support this bill.

• Attend the Back the Bill protest at the Dáil at 5pm on Wednesday 20 June 2012

http://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/23573

The household charge has been a disaster from day one. At this stage with so many having neither registered or paid, and giving no signs that they will change their mind, it should be scrapped. The chances of this happening are however slim to none so I won't be holding my breath.

Ideologically I am not opposed to a fair property tax, but its clear that this charge or any future tax would simply be a way to get money to service the banking debt. That should not be the case. A progressive tax based on a households income as well as the value of the house would imo be welcome, with exemptions etc for those in the more hard pressed lower income brackets. However it is the wrong time even for a tax such as the one I describe, it's kicking people when they are down.

[Baron von Biffo]

This bill will fail and SF knows it will fail. It's just another cynical vote grubbing manoeuvre. A sign, if it was needed, that SF is just the same as all the other parties.

If they wanted to show they were different from the others what they should do is say that if they are in government after the next GE they will repeal the tax and refund whatever has been paid. They could say that that would be a non-negotiable demand in coalition talks and seek a mandate on that basis.

Chance of them doing that? Zero.

[Saoirse go Deo]

This bill will fail and SF knows it will fail. It's just another cynical vote grubbing manoeuvre. A sign, if it was needed, that SF is just the same as all the other parties.

If they wanted to show they were different from the others what they should do is say that if they are in government after the next GE they will repeal the tax and refund whatever has been paid. They could say that that would be a non-negotiable demand in coalition talks and seek a mandate on that basis.

Chance of them doing that? Zero.

Any private members bill will fail.

[Baron von Biffo]

Any private members bill will fail.

Not always but this one will because it seeks something the government is implacably opposed to.

SF and the Alphabet Soup are fighting over the carcass of Lab and that's the sole reason for this stunt.

[fluffybiscuits]

This bill will fail and SF knows it will fail. It's just another cynical vote grubbing manoeuvre. A sign, if it was needed, that SF is just the same as all the other parties.

If they wanted to show they were different from the others what they should do is say that if they are in government after the next GE they will repeal the tax and refund whatever has been paid. They could say that that would be a non-negotiable demand in coalition talks and seek a mandate on that basis.

Chance of them doing that? Zero.

Think that you are spot on there with your assertion. Shinners while I am gaining some respect for them are returning to the use of populist tactics to try and get some attention. They have the next election in the bag and should divert their energy to doing their best to undermine the current government and perhaps push Phil Hogan over that political cliff he is ever so precariously standing over. Their proposal is very viable and is something I would back but with a few of the Dail earning over a couple of hundred grand a year such a thing if passed would count against them.