Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I find the hypocrisy of Sinn Féin extraordinary. It seeks the repeal of this tax, which it has been consistent about South of the Border, whereas North of the Border in Newry where Sinn Féin is in control of the local council it has increased the rate while the non-domestic regional rate is maintained at the same level. Sinn Féin is hypocritical when it says "Let's get rid of it down the South and let's screw the people in the North of Ireland". What it has done in the last number of weeks has been to renege on tax and allow it to be taken over by Westminster. It has handed it back and neglected the people it says it represents on social welfare in the North of Ireland by handing back the role of funding of that to Westminster. It shows the cowardice of Sinn Féin. Down here it hypocritically seeks the complete repeal of the legislation, but in the North of Ireland where it is in control of a lot of local councils, it increases the pain of people who are in difficulty and suffering in places like Newry. This year alone, Sinn Féin increased the local rate within Newry from 0.007289 in 2014 to 0.007570 in 2015. That was done by Sinn Féin councillors in Newry.

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