Taxing problem, but resistance will be futile

FANS of Star Trek will be familiar with the Borg: a race of ruthless, emotionless automatons who tour the galaxy in square space ships enslaving planets and converting their inhabitants into even more Borg.

Invading and enslaving is pretty much all the Borg do. They don’t have whist drives or an amateur theatre group. They arrive at a new planet, broadcast their jolly catchphrase — Resistance is Futile — and then set to work.

Resistance is Futile was the not-so-subtle subtext of last week’s announcements about the property tax. Queen of the Borg, Josephine Feehily of the Revenue Commissioners, laid out in blood-chilling tones how the new tax will be collected: We will send out the letter. You will pay.