Property tax - Government must change deadline

Despite the Government’s feeble bid to distance itself from the property tax controversy, the confusion in the minds of more than a one million people caused by a letter from the Revenue Commissioners is deeper and more politically embarrassing than ever.

Conflicting sounds are coming from the Coalition Cabinet. Taoiseach Enda Kenny of Fine Gael says no one has to pay the 2014 property tax in 2013 and points out that people have a number of options to pay the tax in 2014, such as spreading their payments. Seemingly more in touch with reality on the ground, especially the sense of bewilderment among an increasingly angry public, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore of Labour has called on Revenue to look again at the deadline arrangement for people making online payments by credit or debit cards.

Despite the concerns raised by Mr Gilmore, Labour look destined to lose yet another argument at the Cabinet table. The ‘not an inch’ stance of Fine Gael shows how out of touch and increasingly arrogant the country’s biggest political party is becoming regarding the plight of a public weighed down by grinding austerity.