Bin tax protests - Credibility of council undermined

THE Socialist Party agitators provided the nucleus for the demonstration blocking the collection of rubbish in the Fingal County Council area yesterday. They were adamant that either all bins would be collected, or none.

"Most, if not all, of the bin collections will not be allowed to proceed," warned Deputy Joe Higgins. Some dump trucks were collecting normally within the council area yesterday, but others were blocked and the dispute is likely to spread, unless the authorities demonstrate that they are determined to defend the rights of the majority.

The bin tax amounts to a new form of taxation. Since nobody likes to pay taxes, it is not difficult to win support for such protests, especially among people who feel disillusioned with the current Government, which cynically promised much that it never intended to deliver.