Taoiseach willing to meet hunger striker protesting against property tax

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said he is prepared to meet a man who has been on hunger strike for 22 days outside Leinster House because of his objection to the property tax.

Independent TD John Halligan raised the case of Co Meath man Tony Rochford, whom he said had lost 29 lbs (13kg) in weight and had extremely low blood pressure because of his protest. His family yesterday brought him home for medical treatment but he was continuing his strike.

Mr Kenny said he was not unwilling to meet Mr Rochford but he would need to know the full circumstances of his case.

He said, “hopefully we can at least have this explained in a way that the man does not have to be on hunger strike outside the gates of the Irish parliament”.

Tax clearance certificate
Mr Halligan said during Leaders' Questions that Mr Rochford, a self-employed man, could not get a tax clearance certificate because of his opposition to the property tax.

Mr Kenny said “I do not have any difficulty at all meeting Mr Rochford but I need to know what the circumstances are so the Minister for Social Protection, the Minister for Finance and the Revenue Commissioners can deal with this question of the property tax” and “hopefully have the matter resolved to some extent”.