Martin refuses to pay household tax

A city council brother of Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has admitted he has not paid the household tax.

Councillor Seán Martin, who represents Cork City’s south central ward, described the €100 tax — introduced to fund local authority services — as “divisive and socially unfair”, and insisted he will not pay it.

“It was introduced as a brushstroke measure aimed at everybody with a mortgage,” said Seán Martin. “It has no respect to income, or the circumstances people find themselves in today.

“And it has criminalised a lot of decent people who, up to now, have played by the rules.”

Mr Martin made his comments after a heated debate on the tax at a city council meeting on Monday.

Socialist Party councillor Mick Barry tabled a motion calling on councillors to oppose any attempt by the local authority to bring to court anybody who refuses to register for, or pay, the household charge.

He accused authorities of “threatening and bullying” ordinary people into paying the charge ahead of the expected issuing of “warning letters” to those who have not paid.

City manager Tim Lucey said he is obliged by legislation to collect the charge.

Mr Lucey stressed that he has never issued any threat to anybody in relation to the non-payment of the charge.

Mr Barry’s motion, which would have had no legal effect, was voted down 16-7.

He said it was designed to give all councillors an opportunity to show their opposition to the local authority taking ordinary citizens to court.

“Not only did they squander this opportunity, but they joined forces to give the moral go-ahead to the city manager to intimidate ordinary citizens,” said Mr Barry.

Earlier, Lord Mayor Terry Shannon had to issue several warnings to about 40 anti-household tax campaigners in the public gallery to remain silent and respect the meeting, and to not photographs proceedings.

“If you want to address the council, go away and get elected,” Mr Shannon said.

It prompted jeers and shouts of “Sieg heil” from one of the protestors.

Afterwards, members of the group stood at the door of the council chamber and shouted “shame, “cowards”, and “scumbags” as councillors left the meeting.

“People are emotional about this. People cannot afford to pay the charge,” said Damian Moylan of the Mallow Campaign Against Household Charges.

“There is no animosity at individual councillors. We are talking about policy and this was a statement of discontent with those policies.

“They are taking money from people who just can’t afford it.”

Campaigner Micheál Magner from Mallow said they were disappointed with councillors.

“It’s the same old thing with them. And with Seán Martin’s attitude, I can assure you Fianna Fáil will remain in the ashes for a long, long, time,” he said.

Mr Martin urged the Government to overhaul the tax system, to introduce a third tax band for people earning over €100,000, to introduce a means-tested property tax, and to delay introducing water charges.