Scrap the tax, says Hatrick
SCRAP THE tax, that was Ardee Labour councillor, Leonard Hatrick's controversial motion calling on his own party colleagues in Government to withdraw the €100 Household Charge. .
At last week's Ardee Town Council meeting, Councillor Hatrick's motion was supported by all the members apart from FG'S Dolores Minogue and Finnan Mccoy who both voted against the former Progressive Democratics motion
Councillor Hatrick - who lives in an unfinished housing estate which means he is not personally responsible for the Household Charge proposed that the town council writes to the Government asking them to ' scrap the tax altogether until they come up with a fairer solution'.
Councillor Hatrick's motion came during a debate on Independent Councillor Jim Tennanty, who had also tabled a motion calling on the Government to rethink the €100 charge because 'it is a punishment and burden on the working class and the poorer class who cannot afford it'.
The Independent councillor and local businessman has said he will be locked up rather than pay the charge. 'I will go to jail over this unfair tax,' he said.
Fianna Fail representative, Paudie Mckenny said the whole idea of a household tax was ' badly advised' befoe adding his support to the motion.
Describing it as an extra burden on people, Cllr Tennanty said that in estates like Ardee's Ferdia Park where there are two houses side by side and one is council tenant and the other a home-owner, only the person who owns the property will be liable. ' This is crazy because it is so unfair. It doesn't make sense. I think that either, no one pays or everyone pays, that is the fairest solution.'
Dropping his motion, Councillor Tennanty said he supported Councillor Hatrick's while Councillor Finnan Mccoy, Fine Gael, said the money would be going back into local authorities.'if you want services provided then you are going to have to pay for it,' he told the stormy meeting.
