State must pull the plug on CIÉ cash support

Have we now become a State that feeds on the many for the benefit of the few?

Reading the papers, listening to the radio, watching the television, and seeing what’s going on around us must surely make us wonder what in the hell is going on. It appears that everywhere we look the State and its agents are taking from the ordinary taxpayer with impunity.

We are as close to a totalitarian state as we have ever been. Government brings in unfair charges and taxes and if we fail to comply they have given themselves the power to raid our bank accounts and seize our assets. Due process has been dropped in favour of diktat. One wonders what the Constitution might say about property rights.

On Tuesday last a topic on the Joe Duffy Show was the Non Principal Primary Residence Tax of €200 and the way the tax has been applied. With the advent of the LPT, the NPPR is now at its death. This tax existed from 2009 to 2013 and was the opening act for the now established Local Property Tax. Those asked with collecting the tax appear to be treating taxpayers much like a vampire feeding on its victims.

There is no mercy, no possibility of appeal, no possibility of an exemption, no higher power to reason with. Ignorance of the tax is not an acceptable reason for not paying it. Having no money is just not an excuse.

The show spoke to folk who worked overseas and were not aware of the tax but who have now received in the last few days a bill for €4,000-plus that must be paid by tomorrow night. In the event it’s not paid by then the poor sods will be required to pay over €7,000 from Monday next.

When asked why the local authorities had not informed the householders that this tax was due one local authority employee reportedly said that it was the householder’s responsibility to know about it and that there was no requirement on the council to tell anyone. To call such situations Kafkaesque would be an understatement. Unfortunately, that is how our country is now apparently run.

Why does the State need to impose these charges? The troika used to be the excuse. The Irish State cannot continue to pay the best salaries and public sector pensions in Europe to its ministers, politicians and senior civil servants unless it takes the money from the rest of us.

The CIÉ Group is a classic case. CIÉ is haemorrhaging money and is not making ends meet. It is much in the news these days with workers deciding their best way of getting the Government to back off the proposed pay cuts is targeting innocent GAA supporters heading for the All Ireland finals.

CIÉ still has reportedly over 90 staff members on salaries of over €100,000 per annum. Its Irish Rail boss is on a salary of over €200,000. In other state companies the salaries at the top are even larger and those benefiting more numerous. How do they all do it? It would appear that it’s by charging amongst the most expensive fares and rates in Europe.

It’s clear CIÉ and its subsidiaries are not fit for purpose but it may not be all its own fault. It’s trying to be a commercial company and offer a social service at the same time. It needs a proper and coherent mandate but the Government avoids giving it one.

It’s probably best that it’s put out of its misery. Going private couldn’t be any worse but at least it wouldn’t be taxpayers’ money that was wasted.

Given our recent performance it would appear that very few at the top of many State organisations and government in Ireland are worthy of their hire. They have obtained their roles under false pretences. It’s time things changed for the better or the electorate just might think that the unthinkable is becoming a viable alternative and give Sinn Féin the nod. Then we would be surely skewered.