Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Last week in this House, the Tánaiste acknowledged that there have been difficulties, including communications difficulties, with the payment of the household charge. On reflection, he will have to agree that what he said probably represents one of the understatements of the year. Unfortunately, the entire project has been a bit of a debacle. It has rightly been described today in a number of editorials as a "fiasco". The Tánaiste also said last week that it is possible to make this payment at a post office. Of course, it was not possible to make the payment at a post office and it is still not possible. Forms are available, but people have to write to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Department. To compound that and add insult to injury, the Minister, Deputy Burton, repeated that error on an RTE programme on Sunday. She had to be corrected by the Minister, Deputy Hogan, later that afternoon. The Minister, Deputy Hogan, is not making it easy for people to pay this household charge. He has steadfastly refused to extend the 31 March deadline, even though just 23% of the 1.8 million people who are obliged to register have done so. As I said last week, the Minister has taken an "Orwellian" approach. Big Phil is intent on marching on.

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