Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

-----which up to now they pay through the local authority structure. A charging structure is being introduced but there is no clarity for the taxpayer on whether there is any reduction in taxation as a result of the introduction of charges. That is what is annoying people and getting their backs up. It is being referred to on the streets as double taxation, that people regard it as paying twice. We have all seen the placards. The people who wrote those placards are very genuine and they are deeply concerned that they should not pay for a public service twice. That is the core issue. They are being asked to pay twice because the funding model is a confusing mixture of charges and this was highlighted by Senator Healy Eames in her contribution. There was complete confusion in the debate and I was not clear on the precise level of charges. I do not think the Minister of State is completely clear either.