Campaign against household charges expands

THE campaign against household charges took a step further in Galway on Monday night when up to 200 people crowded into a meeting in the Harbour Hotel. From Galway city and county with a large representation from Connemara, people expressed anger at the Government's proposal to introduce a septic tank charge and a household charge of €100.[private] They cited the fact that people had paid stamp duty when they purchased their house and reminding people that the current Taoiseach Enda Kenny when in opposition said that a man's house is his castle and therefore Fine Gael would oppose a tax on the family home. 'We will not pay a cent of these charges ... it's for the sins of crooked politicians, speculators and bankers,' one of the speakers said to rapturous applause. A contribution from the floor compared the growing opposition to the charges with Michael Davitt's Land War against British landlords who were 'squeezing Ireland dry' at that time. 'Plus ca change' came the response. Deputy Claire Daly (Socialist Party) who attended the meeting advised people not to register or pay, saying that the process of registration is the government's say of collecting information in an inexpensive and trouble-free way. She stated that there are alternatives to what the government is doing, mentioning as part of a list, taxing the wealthy and reclaiming our natural resources. Future meetings are planned for around the county including one in Williamstown in the Parochial Hall on Sunday February 19 at 3.30. A number of TDs and councillors are expected to attend. The aim of the campaign is to join forces with like minded people from Tuam, Roscommon and Castlebar where protest committees have already been established. 'Let's be clear about one thing, this country is now being run by France and Germany. I never though I'd see the day, when householders in the west of Ireland would be told not to cut their own turf, while at the same time they are being forced to pay a septic tank tax, residential property tax, water rates, while the country is being bled of its youth, schools, hospitals, and Garda stations and army barracks are being closed on a daily basis' said John Rodgers, Chairperson of the Williamstown Action Committee. 'Every day we are being told by an Irish puppet government that we will have to pay, to carry the can for bailing out the banks for the next 20 to 30 years. 'That's why it is in everyone's interest to support this campaign. For further information and to get answers to your many questions you can simply log onto www.nohouseholdtax.org. Or you can phone the campaign hotline on 1890 98 9800 to register your opposition to this charge,' said Mr Rodgers.[/private]