Sinn Féin spokesperson on Environment, Community & Local Government, Brian Stanley TD, has outlined how Sinn Féin will scrap the household charge and how local government can be fully funded without any hidden charges or double taxation.

Speaking at a Sinn Féin press conference in Dublin Deputy Stanley called on all TDs to support the Household Charge Repeal Bill which he will introduce to the Dáil this evening.

He said: "This Bill aims to reverse the Household Charge and reimburse all those who have paid the charge. Sinn Féin will be introducing the bill this evening and it will be put a to a vote.

-- Advertisement --

"We have campaigned against this charge since it was first introduced in last year’s budget. Despite the government’s best attempts to bully the public into submission, nearly 50% of households still have not paid the household charge. The Sinn Féin bill will give the opportunity to government and opposition parties to overturn the charge.

"We are delighted to have received support for the bill from UNITE, MANDATE, the Dublin council of Trade Unions as well as a number of community and campaign groups.

"The household charge was introduced because the Fine Gael/Labour government cut the funding to local authorities and redirected the money to bail out the banks. To raise the €160 million needed for local authorities a charge of €100 was imposed on people’s homes.

"I am calling on all TDs to back this Bill and on the government, particularly the Labour Party, to reconsider its position and support the Sinn Féin Bill. It is the only fair and common sense approach."

(CD)