David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

There is no doubt the household charge has been a shambles from its conception to the sorry state in which it has left the Government. Senators should cast their minds back to the introduction in the House of the legislation giving effect to the charge when the Minister indicated, in a very arrogant and dismissive manner, that he was not minded to accept amendments tabled by my party, other parties and Independent Senators which proposed to make it easier for people to pay the charge and to increase the number of exemptions. This is part of the reason the Government finds itself in its current position. The crucial reason, however, is that many of those being asked to pay do not have the €100 required. Others are opposed in principle to the concept of the charge.

The Minister stated this morning that 29 sack loads of payments had been received. He will need 29,000 black sacks full of payments if he is to reach his target of a 50% payment rate. I do not believe his target will be met. It is high time he stopped engaging in nonsense and bully boy tactics, came clean and stated the charge is a mistake. The Minister for Education and Science put up his hands and admitted he made a mistake on the DEIS schools before rowing back partially on his proposed measures. It is time the Minister, rather than continuing to show arrogance, put up his hands and admitted he has made a mistake.

At the weekend, the Minister indicated he would send out council staff to try to collect the charge or to remind people it was due. This morning, I was informed by the city manager in Waterford City Council that he has not received any instructions from the Department or anyone else to use council staff for any such purposes. The Government has issued an idle threat.

I support the proposed amendment to the Order of Business and call on the Government to stop issuing threats, admit its mistakes, produce its so-called progressive property tax bill and allow us to debate it. Sinn Féin will introduce a Bill in the Dáil later today seeking to have the household charge legislation repealed and requesting that the Government produce alternative proposals. Other options on the table would enable us to raise money in ways other than the unfair and unjust household charge.