Payers of household tax are ‘genuine patriots’

Paying the €100 household charge was described as an act of “genuine patriotism to this country at this difficult time” by Environment Minister Phil Hogan, who led the attack at the ard fheis against the Socialist TDs opposing the charge.

He said those who have “stepped up to” the payment “are the people who are standing by democracy”.

Mr Hogan added that “those people who have paid recognise the national financial difficulty at this time”.