Mary Lou clarifies property tax stance

I refer to your front page article on May 28 in which your reporters, Juno McEnroe and Seán McCárthaigh, claim that I had asked families to risk incurring penalties in relation to non-payment of the family home (property) tax.

My statement of the day before, clearly stated my belief that the only way to defeat this tax was to support the Sinn Féin bill to repeal it, which has been introduced by our finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty.

Speaking to media on the plinth at Leinster House, I said I had paid the tax, under protest, as the Revenue Commissioners would take it from me anyway, as they would from all householders.

I also said that this tax on the family home is unjustified and unfair.

At no time did I suggest, ask or recommend, to anyone that they should do anything to incur penalties from the Revenue Commissioners. I recognise that this unfair tax is adding to the burden on families already struggling under the burden of this government’s austerity policies.

Mary Lou McDonald TD

Deputy Leader, Sinn Féin

Leinster House

Dublin 2