Clash over household tax

Sir, – We now apparently have the household/property tax passed into legislation by a vote in which the Government achieved …

Sir, – We now apparently have the household/property tax passed into legislation by a vote in which the Government achieved a majority of 43. The actual figures show that 47 voted in opposition, the Government had 90; so can someone tell us where the other 28 TDs were? Presumably they were too frightened to stand and be counted? I now understand that the property tax when changed according to Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan will be self-assessed. We can see where self-assessment of income tax has got us with publication this month of the latest defaulters. Company directors and farmers are up there with the rest of the self-assessors. On this basis I would suggest that I could assess my house for the tax at a value of €10 (ludicrous obviously). – Yours, etc,

KEITH CARGILL,

Drinagh, Ennistymon, Co Clare.