WITH 40,000 Residential Property Tax forms due for return to the Revenue Commissioners today, Fianna Fail's campaign to abolish the levy has gathered momentum.
The party yesterday launched its billboard advertising campaign in Dublin and tomorrow it tables a Dail motion calling on the Government to immediately abolish the Residential Property Tax (RPT) "given that this form of taxation unfairly penalises those who reside within certain regions of the country".
Residential Property Tax is set to become a hot political issue in the general election campaign in urban areas and both Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats have signalled their intention to scrap the controversial levy.
Fianna Fail's spokesman on finance, Mr Charlie McCreevy, said last night that Thursday's Dail vote on the Private Members motion will give an opportunity to "all those TDs who say they arc against the tax to stand up and be counted
"The Residential Property Tax is a cross bred hybrid that is neither a wealth or income tax. It is a throw back to a socialist ideology that should have been confined to the dustbin years ago, Mr McCreevy said.
He had consistently "railed" against the tax and, as Opposition spokesman in last year's Budget debate, had announced Fianna Fail would get rid of the levy, on getting back into government.
The Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, said while there had been "plenty of tinkering" with the tax since its introduction, it was very unpopular.