Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

The agents of the speculators are the European Union and the IMF, while the Government is their enforcer in ravaging the living standards and hitting the employment prospects of the people. The memorandum dictates that in the fourth review by the end of the year under the heading of fiscal consolidation there shall be a property tax. It contains proposals for a water charge in 2012 and 2013. We hear the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government is going to the Cabinet shortly with what will be called a utility charge. As Head of the Government, will the Taoiseach clarify the policy? Will the household utility charge be in addition to a property tax, or is it another name for that tax and will it replace it? Is the household utility charge meant to cover a water charge as a catch-all in the sense that the people can be soaked under whatever brand name is required? Will it be in addition to a water charge? Are we talking about one, two or three new taxes and charges to be implemented next year by the Government as part of this disastrous proposal to salvage speculators? There should be clarity on the matter.

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