‘No’ result must be respected

The final count on the household tax is in last Tuesday’s post. The majority of Irish households voted “No”.

This was a referendum, not officially sanctioned by government but a referendum all the same. It was a referendum because the people decided to make it so, to take the household tax issue, consider it, debate it and decide it among themselves. And it was appropriate that it be decided in this way because government had crossed a line. It had literally stepped over the threshold of our homes. If Minister Hogan is struggling to understand what happened, he need only ask Enda Kenny, who told the Dáil 15 years ago, “It is morally wrong, unjust and unfair to tax a person’s home.”

There is a central principle in natural law which is fundamental to the Irish Constitution, that every person has an innate dignity and that government exists to guarantee that dignity. In order to live our dignity, we must have the things essential to our human nature.

In the physical realm, this means that we must have air to breathe, water to drink, food to eat, clothing to cover ourselves, and shelter from the elements. Similarly in the intellectual, spiritual and emotional sphere, our human nature has essential requirements.

We have an inalienable right to whatever is necessary to maintain human life and dignity. It is in light of this principle that Enda Kenny was correct. It is morally wrong to tax what is essential to the human person. No one can legitimately take away a human right or potentially deny it through taxation. If a government can tax something essential, they can take it away if the tax is not paid. This is an absurdity and an injustice.

In my opinion, it is this principle of human dignity rather than any other reason suggested by Minister Hogan that accounts for the high “No” vote.

We have had our referendum. The vote was a resounding “No”. It is time to accede to the people’s judgement and return the money that has been paid to date. If there is to be a house tax, it must exempt primary and therefore essential residences and be confined to extra dwellings.

Government must not be tempted, as has happened in the past, to ignore the peoples “No” and go back to them with fear and spin to force a different answer.

Kathy Sinnott

Ballinhassig

Co Cork