Anti-household charge group to step up campaign

The Campaign Against Household and Water Taxes has pledged to step up its campaign in the coming weeks as concern grows that those who have not paid the household charge may get a court summons.

It is estimated around 600,000 people have yet to register for the €100 which was introduced by the Government in January.

A series of protests will be held at local council meetings throughout the country in the coming weeks as campaigners demonstrate against planned cuts to local services.

The campaign group has also distanced itself from Independent TD Mick Wallace, who made a false VAT declaration to Revenue, and who once spoke publicly in support of the group.

Spokesperson for the Campaign Against Household and Water Taxes and Dublin councillor Brid Smith denied any inconsistency in the group's distancing itself from Mick Wallace, while urging householders not to pay the household charge.

"There's a big difference between paying a tax on the family home and a businessperson who makes lots of money refusing to pay his taxes on the profits that he's taking in," she said.

"I don't think it's at all hypocritical of us to defend ordinary people for refusing to pay a tax on the family home that they paid dearly for."