Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)

I know it will be me. This is part of a bigger agenda and anybody who doubts that need only look at the legislation before us and the penalties to be imposed on ordinary people for not registering and not paying in terms of late interest payments, class C fines, court appearances and so forth. It is really punitive legislation which is not being introduced just for this charge.

However, the Minister and the Government cannot bring everybody to court. There are 1.4 million households eligible for the charge and, at best, the Minister can bring about 5% to court. We will go into the courts and defend those people. The Judiciary is not exactly flavour of the month and the idea of its members imposing heavy sanctions on ordinary people, while not a single banker has ended up in jail, will not be tolerated. This Bill is a step too far. People have taken enough and the Minister will face an almighty battle on this issue should he not pull back from the brink.

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