Property Tax (MOD REMINDER: Don't get too personal)

Sam, You mention U-Turns earlier? Here we go AGAIN, more of the same from FG ( and of course, nothing is mentioned about what happens should this bunch of liars not be re-elected in the meantime):

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/fears-bus-unrest-may-spark-wave-of-public-sector-strikes-29261369.html

Allison Bray and Michael Brennan– 13 May 2013
THE Government fears that the Bus Eireann strike, which has already left thousands stranded, will motivate workers across the public sector to mount industrial action.

Up to 70,000 passengers face major disruption today as 1,000 members of the National Bus and Rail Union continue an all-out strike at the state-owned transport company.
Bus Eireann said that 95pc of its services were hit yesterday as staff from other unions refused to cross the picket lines, but today will see busy weekday services affected for the first time.
The Government is desperate to resolve the impasse quickly amid concern that an ongoing strike among the bus workers could encourage others on to the pickets.
The Coalition is especially sensitive because industrial relations troubleshooter Kieran Mulvey is currently locked in talks with public sector unions in order to strike a deal on making €300m in savings.
But if those talks break down without a deal, then the Government has insisted it will legislate for pay cuts across the board. Frontline workers including nurses and gardai have warned of industrial action if this takes place.
A senior government source admitted it was pressing hard to get the Bus Eireann dispute resolved – given the potential for it to be followed by industrial action by other public sector workers.
"No one wants the bus strike to take off in terms of a showcase dispute," he said.
Meanwhile, in a significant move to try and get Croke Park II over the line, public servants earning between €65,000 and €100,000 have been given a commitment that their pay cuts will be fully reversed within five years.
Those public servants earning between €65,000 and €100,000 were due to get a pay cut of between 5.5pc and 8pc under the Croke Park II deal.
But they have now been given a guarantee that their salaries will be restored to their original levels in two phases – half of it in April 2017 and the remaining half in January 2018.
Tourists
The Bus Eireann strike action, which began yesterday morning, centres on the implementation of a €5m cost-cutting plan and is expected to cost the firm €200,000 each day.
The strike is affecting 300 rural and intercity bus routes nationwide, with scores of tourists being turned away from depots and directed towards rail or coach companies.
Michael Faherty, NBRU general secretary, claimed the bus firm had forced the action by implementing a cost-cutting plan which he described as a breach of employment contract.
Bus Eireann's plan includes a 20pc cut to a range of allowance and expense payments, a reduction of overtime rates, longer working hours and a cut in shift payments.
The proposals were backed by the Labour Court, and the the company says the NBRU strike action is unofficial and illegal. It maintained it had not received any credible or viable alternatives from the trade unions.
As the tense stand-off continued, Transport Minister Leo Varadkar urged a resolution – and subtly warned workers they were gambling with the future of their own jobs.
Resolution
"The unions should immediately engage with the company in talks to bring this matter to resolution," he said.
Heaping on the pressure for the strike to end, his colleague, Children's Minister Frances Fitzgerald, said: "The company's very viability is under threat at present.
The Government has also warned that the state-subsidised bus firm lost €27m over the past five years and will not be financially viable if it does not impose cuts.
But while both sides in the dispute said they were willing to talk, little progress was evident.
Bus Eireann spokesman Andrew McLindon told the Irish Independent: "It's an all-out strike. Our concentration at the moment is to get back to service as soon as possible and keep our customers informed."
About 40,000 passengers were affected on the first day of the strike and this is expected to swell to 70,000 today as workers return from the weekend.
However, parents can breathe a sign of relief as SIPTU – which represents the majority of part-time school bus drivers – said it didn't anticipate any disruption to school bus services operated by Bus Eireann.
None of SIPTU's 650 drivers took part in the strike as the union awaits the outcome of balloting on May 16, although they are refusing to cross picket lines.
croke park move: page 12 john downing
Irish Independent

cageyeuclid wrote: »

PAYE is related to earnings, company tax is related to profits and even VAT is related to spending .. the poor pay much less VAT, as their spending is necessarily low.

Bin Charges used to have a waiver for the poor until the City Manager did his undemocratic thing.

LPT is UNJUST, UNFAIR and CRUEL .. even Enda said so.

The poor, pro rata pay much much more of their income on VAT than the rich actually.
The Property Tax may need some tweeking but it is essentially a necessary and valid form of taxation.

Hijpo wrote: »

Enda Kenny said that the second major point in his 5 point plan was to fix the deficit by prioritising an end to waste instead of raising taxes. Have you seen him tackle waste yet? The only public expenditure he is slashing and burning are essential services that the public, who fund them, avail of. While phil hogan eats lunches worth €800 :rolleyes: its a f***ing lunch!! LUNCH!!

he said raising taxes is not reaonsable, he said we cannot fix our finances by continuing a policy of writing blank cheques irrespective of circumstances for banks and said its immoral(lol yeah hes still using that ole chestnut, seriously),
he said the peoples money will be spent wisely on vital public services by abolishing quangos etc

All a load of horse ****, all people want is a decent return for the taxes, charges and levies they cough up. Christ sake the swiss voted to RAISE taxes, why? because they see a return for the money they pay. why do they see a return? because the government have consequences to face if they did what the politicians are free to do here.

So well said Hijpo...TOTALLY concur with every word You say here.

One other thing that really galls me is that bully from Kilkenny - Hogan. He comes on the media here, and throws his threats around about making sure people MUST pay their HHC/LPT, yet he is refusing to do the exact same on his 2nd home in Portugal. Oh and while on the hogan gravy train, I wonder how many other jaunts the leech goes on, and slaps the drinks bill to US, the taxpayers? What a trollop!