Clare Daly resigns from the Socialist Party

[C. Flower]

I have to disagree Cass, I'm a student and am affected by the HC, (or would have been anyway if myself or my family had have paid it) and students will be affected by property taxes - I reckon they will be passed on to student tenants. Students en masse are already ripped off and abused by landlords. With student accommodation they know that their tenants will only be there for nine months or so and are not likely to create too much of a fuss.

All taxes, at present, are "passed on" down the line to those least able to resist. This is one of the reasons why a solution to inequality based primarily on taxing the rich would not work. The problem is not that it is wrong to tax property, surely? The problem is that a lot of people can't afford to pay additional taxes of any kind, as their budgets are squeezed by reduced earnings and price increases.

The higher income bracket in Ireland are better off than ever, and can well afford to pay.

Property tax is one of the few taxes that can't easily be evaded by the rich.

[C. Flower]

Clare Daly will apparently be the main speaker at a meeting of unaligned ULA members tomorrow. This will be the first opportunity for her to put forward her political position, since leaving the Socialist Party.

[Saoirse go Deo]

All taxes, at present, are "passed on" down the line to those least able to resist. This is one of the reasons why a solution to inequality based primarily on taxing the rich would not work. The problem is not that it is wrong to tax property, surely? The problem is that a lot of people can't afford to pay additional taxes of any kind, as their budgets are squeezed by reduced earnings and price increases.

The higher income bracket in Ireland are better off than ever, and can well afford to pay.

Property tax is one of the few taxes that can't easily be evaded by the rich.

I wasn't arguing against a property tax, but merely saying that students are affected - although tbh most would not readily see how it does.

[disability student]

Best way is to change Ireland's residency rules for tax purposes to property in ownership even in day 1 would tax or bring in the net more instead of number of days. That would affect the wealth class more so.

Property tax can be evaded by means of trust as there is lot of high net worth people using this type to get around the loophole.

For instance, Denis o Brien got away with it re his house that doesn't have a kitchen, which was upheld by the Revenue Commissioners. There are ways and means to find the loopholes
and exploit it to the maximum.

[Jolly Red Giant]

Clare Daly will apparently be the main speaker at a meeting of unaligned ULA members tomorrow. This will be the first opportunity for her to put forward her political position, since leaving the Socialist Party.

And I am sure she'll do a very good job of it too - capable activist that she is - it is, however, unfortunate that her political position has changed so radically in a couple of months given that she was utterly dismissive of the ULA while in the Socialist Party (and it is necessary to make this point)

Will the non-aligned members attending ask her to desist from her continued support for Wallace?

[Saoirse go Deo]

Surely it's obvious that the ULA is to be "her" party, similar to how the other big eggs on the left have their own vehicles?

[fluffybiscuits]

All taxes, at present, are "passed on" down the line to those least able to resist. This is one of the reasons why a solution to inequality based primarily on taxing the rich would not work. The problem is not that it is wrong to tax property, surely? The problem is that a lot of people can't afford to pay additional taxes of any kind, as their budgets are squeezed by reduced earnings and price increases.

The higher income bracket in Ireland are better off than ever, and can well afford to pay.

Property tax is one of the few taxes that can't easily be evaded by the rich.

A property tax like that would need to be relative to the income of the person so targetting a property of a certain value would be the key. Eg. Someone with a house over €1m is bound to be on a good wage and the criteria to get such a mortgage in the first place would have had to have shown they were on good wages (ten per cent for a deposit and three times a combined average salary isnt it?). As S go D pointed out there will be loopholes for those whom can find them. Some fairly crafty accountants out there!

[disability student]

A property tax like that would need to be relative to the income of the person so targetting a property of a certain value would be the key. Eg. Someone with a house over €1m is bound to be on a good wage and the criteria to get such a mortgage in the first place would have had to have shown they were on good wages (ten per cent for a deposit and three times a combined average salary isnt it?). As S go D pointed out there will be loopholes for those whom can find them. Some fairly crafty accountants out there!

Link re D O' Brien kitchen:http://www.independent.ie/national-n...ds-471700.html

However, in keeping with his new-found status he had also purchased a ?7m four-storey mansion on Raglan Road in Dublin 4. The Revenue Commissioners claimed this was his 'principal residence' for tax purposes. It was only after he proved he couldn't live there because it didn't have a kitchen that they relented.

[bolshevik]

Clare was amazingly uninformed about how the ULA actually operates and vague about the exact details of how she intends to manifest her claimed desire to build the ULA and encourage the development towards a new party.

She assured us she has no political connection to Wallace and continues to agree with the SP position.

We also have two new reps to the national steering committee - Eddie Conlon and myself.

[Sam Lord]

We also have two new reps to the national steering committee - Eddie Conlon and myself.

Well done. I have a feeling you will be steering a sinking ship however.

Were the independents enthusiastic about the state of affairs?

[Sam Lord]

She assured us she has no political connection to Wallace and continues to agree with the SP position.

It is not an issue for the ULA in any case as there is nothing to prohibit Wallace himself from joining it if he so wishes. I'm sure he agrees with the basic positions.

[Baron von Biffo]

It is not an issue for the ULA in any case as there is nothing to prohibit Wallace himself from joining it if he so wishes. I'm sure he agrees with the basic positions.

[Jolly Red Giant]

Clare was amazingly uninformed about how the ULA actually operates and vague about the exact details of how she intends to manifest her claimed desire to build the ULA and encourage the development towards a new party.

Maybe now you will understand the points I was making about Clare Daly's attitude to the ULA before she resigned from the SP

She assured us she has no political connection to Wallace and continues to agree with the SP position.

If you listen to Clare Daly she repeatedly says 'Wallace's company' didn't pay the VAT - that is not the position of the SP. Wallace himself doesn't make the distinction. Furthermore Clare Daly repeatedly refused to sign Socialist Party press statements on Wallace's tax affairs.

We also have two new reps to the national steering committee - Eddie Conlon and myself.

I don't envy you.

[fluffybiscuits]

Link re D O' Brien kitchen:http://www.independent.ie/national-n...ds-471700.html

However, in keeping with his new-found status he had also purchased a ?7m four-storey mansion on Raglan Road in Dublin 4. The Revenue Commissioners claimed this was his 'principal residence' for tax purposes. It was only after he proved he couldn't live there because it didn't have a kitchen that they relented.

Amazing isnt it, there is no kitchen so get off paying taxes....

[bolshevik]

It is not an issue for the ULA in any case as there is nothing to prohibit Wallace himself from joining it if he so wishes. I'm sure he agrees with the basic positions.

Actually that came up in passing at the meeting and Clare said there was no chance of it happening.