Public urged to join anti-taxprotests

Campaigners against household and water taxes will take to the streets today in an attempt to ramp up support for their cause ahead of the Mar 31 payment deadline.

It comes as a top law firm has launched an investigation into a bogus memo that claims to have come from the company advising the public on paying the household charge.

As householders are being urged by the Government to sign up to pay the charge, the Campaign Against Household & Water Taxes (CAHWT) urged the public to join their nearest protest activity today.

Currently, registration figures for the tax are low, with 93% remaining unpaid.

CAHWT believes its campaign is gaining huge momentum and that the mood is changing in the country against ongoing austerity measures.

Tommy Hogan, campaign spokesperson, claimed people realised the tax was not for services, but another donation to bondholders.

The Waterford campaign member said meeting after meeting heard tales of disappointment and betrayal.

“We can force the Government back if we stick together in a united boycott campaign that would see hundreds of thousands — maybe 1m — not registering by St Patrick’s Day. If we do that, we can go all the way,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dublin-based McCann Fitzgerald has told people who received the memo via email and leaflet drops that it has nothing to do with the firm, even though it contains its logo and website address.

A McGann Fitzgerald spokesman advised the media not to print details of the memo, which claims that the statute implementing the charge cannot affect members of the public if they do not consent to it.

There is a range of payment options available for the household charge is concerned. Payment can be made by credit or debit card at www.householdcharge.ie or by cheque or postal order by filling out and sending a registration form to Household Charge, PO Box 12168, Dublin 1.

*In Munster, rallies against the charge will be held today in Daunt Sqaure, Cork, at 2pm; on Killarney Road, Mallow, at 2.30pm; Pery’s Square, Limerick, at 12pm; at the O’Connell monument, Ennis, at 2pm; John Roberts Square, Waterford, at 3pm.