- NEWS
Appeal for public help in double murder probeA double murder investigation involving more than 50 gardaí got under way in Killorglin, Co Kerry, after autopsies confirmed a Lithuanian woman and her young daughter had died violently.
Ronan kicks off portraits initiativeHe's kicked a record number of penalty kicks, drop kicks and conversions over the bar. But Irish rugby legend Ronan O'Gara, 36, hit the side of a bar yesterday as a very special photographic exhibition was unveiled across Cork City.
- WORLD
Brand divorced me by text, says Perry Pop star Katy Perry has revealed that Russell Brand told her he was divorcing her in a text message.
Ex-hitman: Bulger’s FBI dealings ‘broke my heart’A former criminal associate of James "Whitey" Bulger told jurors at the accused mob boss's trial that he agreed to testify against his old friend after learning that his former gang pals had begun co-operating with law enforcement.
- BUSINESS
Aircraft leasing firm buys 10 Boeing jetsShannon-based aircraft leasing firm GE Capital Aviation Services have bought 10 new Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners for an estimated $3bn (€2.24bn) at list price.
20% of rich see value of assets halved Nearly 20% of Ireland's wealthy people have seen the value of their assets halved as a result of their over-reliance on property.
- SPORT
GPA may get involved over Friday night championship dictatThe GPA could yet act on the behalf of the Carlow and Laois football panels as they have confirmed neither they nor the players were consulted about Friday week's All-Ireland round one qualifier.
Kearney keeps eyes on main prize Rob Kearney might not have felt like putting his best foot forward today as the Lions continued to prepare for Saturday's all-important first Test against Australia but he is experienced enough to know that after this midweek defeat by the Brumbies, it is essential for the main mission of the tour.
- LIFESTYLE
Bradley bares his soul Soul singer Charles Bradley found fame late in life, but is haunted by his past, writes Ed Power
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Breaking stories
Resistance by unions to household tax escalates
Resistance to the €100 household tax is set to escalate, with workers threatening strike action if the charge is deducted from their wages.
By Mary Regan, Political Correspondent
At its national conference next month, the Civil and Public Service Union will debate a motion to ballot 13,000 public sector workers for industrial action if there are any attempts to deduct the charge from their salaries. Executive member of the union Terry Kelleher said a motion has been passed calling for the tax to be scrapped.
However, the union leadership has not taken an official position on the charge and has not called on its members to boycott it.
Meanwhile, the Unite trade union has urged its 50,000 members not to pay the charge, which it described as “one more punch below the waist”.
The union said it was not opposed to a property tax if it was “fair” to everyone but did not agree with a flat charge being imposed “without care or thought” on every household.
Unite promised to “stand beside” members who are willing to show courage and resist the charge.
But asked of they would help members if they are fined for non-payment, spokesperson Rob Hartnett said: “We’re a long way from determining what measures that support might entail. As it stands at the moment we are a long way from the household charge being implemented.”
Ten days ahead of the Mar 31 deadline, 279,980 of the 1.6m eligible property owners have signed up for the charge, according to the Department of the Environment.
A new system of payment through post offices, which came into effect yesterday, has so far failed to have a serious impact on registration numbers, with an additional 11,000 people signing up since the weekend.
If there is widespread avoidance of the payment, the Government can avail of a law that will allow a court to order for the deduction of a €100 fee from the pay or social welfare benefits of homeowners.
A late-payment fee of €10 will apply if the charge is not paid within six months of the due date, €20 between six and 12 months and €30 if the payment is 12 months late. After two years, the penalty rises to €280 with the combination of charges, late-payment fees and interest.
Local authorities will also have the power to take prosecutions against homeowners who fail to pay, with fines ranging from between €1,000 and €2,000.
The fines, as well as late payments, could be taken from wages or welfare payments under changes to the Fines Act to go through the Dáil this year.
The department said there are no plans to extend the deadline beyond this month, which Fianna Fáil said was “no longer tenable”.
The party’s environment spokesman Niall Collins said Environment Minister Phil Hogan should “put his hands up and admit that this has not been executed in the right way”.
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