Using utility bills to implement Household Charge 'could be open to legal challenge'

The Data Protection Commissioner has warned that the use of information from utility bills to track down people who have not paid their Household Charge could be open to legal challenge.

Billy Hawkes said that the risk of a challenge is low provided the Department of the Environment puts in place proper safeguards.

Property owners must pay the €100 charge by the end of March.

The legislation allows for information from utility bills to be used to identify properties that have not been registered for the charge.

"The State could be challenged if it applied the provision in an unreasonable fashion," said Mr Hawkes.

"Certainly my hope is that the State would use this power, if at all, would use it very sparingly, and in accordance with the strict protocol we will agree with the Department of the Environment."