Jolly Red Giant
2nd March 2012, 21:05
I have been meaning to put this thread up for a while -
The current Fine Gael/Labour Coalition government in Ireland is implementing a €100 flat rate household tax in Ireland as a prelude to imposing a household tax that will impose a charge expected to be in the region of €800-€1000 per household plus water charges. The charge is to be applied to those who register before 31 March. The government has threatened to impose fines of €2500 for those who do not register and impose fines for late payment.
In opposition to the Household Tax - the Socialist Party, the United Left Alliance and others on the left have launched the Campaign Against Household and Water Taxes ( http://nohouseholdtax.org (http://nohouseholdtax.org/) )
The CAHWT has campaigned on the platform of 'Don't Register - Don't Pay'
After two months of constant government and media propaganda approximately 8% of those liable to the Household Charge have registered and paid - that leaves 92% of the population still defying the right-wing Irish government and the EU/ECB/IMF. The Campaign is now the largest campaign of opposition to government proposals in Ireland since the massive taxation protests and campaign in 1979. It has to potential to dramatically alter the situation in what is see as the 'good boy' of Europe who are accepting the austerity of the troika.
The campaign has also taken up the opposition to attempts by the government to impose a €50 registration charge for rural households with septic tanks for the inspection of the tanks. Many septic tanks will require thousands of euro of remedial works to comply with new EU regulations. The government have already been forced to climbdown on this issue - dropping the registration fee to €5 - yet defiance is still at unprecedented levels as people realise the registration fee is the thin edge of the wedge. The CAHWT has taken up the challange and demanded that the government provide much needed jobs by funding any necessary remedial works for septic tanks.
Thousands have joined the campaign - hundreds of meetings have been held all over the country. Some small towns have seen hundreds of people turning out to meetings and joining the campaign. Thousands have participated in demonstrations and protests in towns all over the country with government representatives being confronted every where they go.
As for the other political parties - all the right-wing parties have supproted the charge. Sinn Fein have declared their opposition to the charge but have given cover to the government by repeating the threats of the government by refusing to back non-registration and refusing to support non-payment (because it would be irresponsible.
Some of the latest media coverage
http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0229/austerity.html
http://www.corkman.ie/news/protests-against-house-and-septic-taxes-spread-across-cork-3029605.html
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2012/0211/1224311610835.html
http://www.southernstar.ie/article.php?id=3227
http://www.laois-nationalist.ie/tabId/153/itemId/13626/Government-will-use-fear-and-terror-in-campaign.aspx
Youtube video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EskEac7cCc4
The current Fine Gael/Labour Coalition government in Ireland is implementing a €100 flat rate household tax in Ireland as a prelude to imposing a household tax that will impose a charge expected to be in the region of €800-€1000 per household plus water charges. The charge is to be applied to those who register before 31 March. The government has threatened to impose fines of €2500 for those who do not register and impose fines for late payment.
In opposition to the Household Tax - the Socialist Party, the United Left Alliance and others on the left have launched the Campaign Against Household and Water Taxes ( http://nohouseholdtax.org (http://nohouseholdtax.org/) )
The CAHWT has campaigned on the platform of 'Don't Register - Don't Pay'
After two months of constant government and media propaganda approximately 8% of those liable to the Household Charge have registered and paid - that leaves 92% of the population still defying the right-wing Irish government and the EU/ECB/IMF. The Campaign is now the largest campaign of opposition to government proposals in Ireland since the massive taxation protests and campaign in 1979. It has to potential to dramatically alter the situation in what is see as the 'good boy' of Europe who are accepting the austerity of the troika.
The campaign has also taken up the opposition to attempts by the government to impose a €50 registration charge for rural households with septic tanks for the inspection of the tanks. Many septic tanks will require thousands of euro of remedial works to comply with new EU regulations. The government have already been forced to climbdown on this issue - dropping the registration fee to €5 - yet defiance is still at unprecedented levels as people realise the registration fee is the thin edge of the wedge. The CAHWT has taken up the challange and demanded that the government provide much needed jobs by funding any necessary remedial works for septic tanks.
Thousands have joined the campaign - hundreds of meetings have been held all over the country. Some small towns have seen hundreds of people turning out to meetings and joining the campaign. Thousands have participated in demonstrations and protests in towns all over the country with government representatives being confronted every where they go.
As for the other political parties - all the right-wing parties have supproted the charge. Sinn Fein have declared their opposition to the charge but have given cover to the government by repeating the threats of the government by refusing to back non-registration and refusing to support non-payment (because it would be irresponsible.
Some of the latest media coverage
http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0229/austerity.html
http://www.corkman.ie/news/protests-against-house-and-septic-taxes-spread-across-cork-3029605.html
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2012/0211/1224311610835.html
http://www.southernstar.ie/article.php?id=3227
http://www.laois-nationalist.ie/tabId/153/itemId/13626/Government-will-use-fear-and-terror-in-campaign.aspx
Youtube video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EskEac7cCc4