Martin Conway (Fine Gael)

I commend and congratulate the 400,000 people who have already paid the household charge. Let us remember that they are citizens of this country. I also commend the several hundred thousand other citizens who are in the process of paying and will have paid by Saturday. The €100 charge amounts to €2 per week. The Government could have easily increased the standard rate of tax and probably generated significantly more revenue but did not do so because we are trying to be as fair as possible.

The Government has been accused of arrogance. One organisation that has displayed unbridled arrogance on this issue is An Post which wanted €5 to process the €100 charge. It has now indicated it will process payments for €1. Why did it not do so from the outset? People could then have paid the household charge at their local post office.