Cllrs condemn use of council staff to target non-payers
Councillors from all over Ireland have condemned plans for any instruction
from Phil Hogan’s office to local authorities to create “household charge
collection teams” that will target non-payers and knock on people’s doors
after April 2.
The councillors argue against any such initiative on the grounds that it
would be totally outside the terms and conditions of council workers and
would place council staff in a very difficult situation.
They contend that council workers should be used to provide services to the
general public not to act as enforcers of an unjust and unpopular
Government tax.
The councillors are calling on council workers to refuse to carry out any
such instruction.
The councillors are also calling on SIPTU and IMPACT to inform the
Minister and local authority management that any such instruction will be
resisted by them.
Many of the councillors who signed the statement were involved in
organising last Saturday’s 3000-strong National Rally against the Household
Tax in the National Stadium, Dublin.
Signed by the following Councillors:
Brid Smith – Dublin City Council
Pat Dunne – Dublin City Council
Louise Minihan – Dublin City Council
Cieran Perry – Dublin City Council
Ruth Coppinger – Fingal Co Council
Matt Waine – Fingal Co Council
Eugene Coppinger – Fingal Co Council
Gino Kenny – South Dublin Co Council
Huey Lewis – Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown Council
Melisa Halpin – Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown Council
Terry Kelleher – Balbriggan Town Council
Mick Barry – Cork City Council
Ted Tynan – Cork City Council
Kieran McCarthy – Cobh Town Council
John Campbell – Donegal County Council
Declan Bree – Sligo County Council
Pat English – South Tipperary County Council & Clonmel Borough Council
Billy Shoer – South Tipperary County Council & Clonmel Borough Council
Helena McGee – Clonmel Borough Council
Brian O’Donnell – Clonmel Borough Council
Teresa Ryan – Clonmel Borough Council
Martin Henzey – Carrick-on-Suir Town Council
Frank Gallagher – Drogheda Borough Council
Bobby Dunphy – New Ross Town Council
Peter Mc Aleer – Clones Urban Council
For info, contact: Cllr John Campbell (Donegal) 087-6574885; Cllr Ted
Tynan (Cork) 086-1908281; Cllr Brid Smith (Dublin) 087-9090166.