MINISTER FOR the Environment Phil Hogan has warned 11 TDs that their threat to boycott the €100 household charge would bring the Oireachtas “down a very dangerous road for our democracy”.
In a strongly worded attack on the TDs, drawn from Sinn Féin, the United Left Alliance and Independents, Mr Hogan described their actions as irresponsible and inappropriate.
“I think those TDs should pull back from this irresponsible activity where they are advocating, as lawmakers, that Irish people break the law. It is a very dangerous road for our democracy,” he said.
Earlier, nine TDs came together to launch a public protest against the new flat charge, which completed its passage through the Oireachtas on Wednesday night with a comfortable majority.
The nine were: Clare Daly and Joe Higgins (Socialist Party); Richard Boyd Barrett and Joan Collins (People Before Profit); and Independents Seamus Healy, Thomas Pringle, Mick Wallace, Luke Flanagan and John Halligan.
The deputies, together with a number of councillors, vowed yesterday that they would rather go to jail than pay a tax described as repressive.
Ms Daly said: “Against the background of three years of massive austerity, this is the line in the sand. This is the first opportunity for people to say that enough is enough.” Mr Pringle referred to the additional burden for families in rural areas who would also have to pay the septic tank fee.
Two Sinn Féin TDs have also said they have taken personal decisions not to pay the charge, which will become effective next year. Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Dessie Ellis have said they will refuse to pay the charge.
However, as Mr Ellis lives in a local authority house, as a tenant he may be entitled to a waiver from the charge.
Mr Hogan characterised the opposition, particularly the threat to boycott the charge, as a “cynical and emotive public relations stunt”.
Sinn Féin has stated its opposition to the charge but has not publicly advocated non-payment as yet. Fianna Fáil backs the charge but has been critical of what it says is a narrow range of waivers.
Separately, there has been a clash between landlords and housing charity Threshold over who should be liable for the charge.
Threshold said yesterday that landlords would bear full responsibility for payment of the charge.Chairwoman Senator Aideen Hayden said: “When the Department of the Environment introduced this charge in the recent budget, it stated very clearly that owners – not occupiers – would be liable. This is not a rent increase.”
However, the Irish Property Owners’ Association has urged landlords to pass on the charge to tenants.