Sir, - I object strongly to the tone of your Editorial of January 15th on the vote to introduce bin charges. I voted against this new poll tax because I was sick and tired of PAYE workers being screwed again. We all support recycling and we will continue to push this agenda. However, we disagree on the source of funding. "Effective taxation" always seems to be making the ordinary person pay.
I gave a pledge before the last election that I would not support double taxation and the introduction of service charges. I stuck by that. I also put forward other suggestions to fund waste management services. For example, over 34 per cent of buildings in the Dublin Corporation area within the canal ring are exempted from paying rates. Over £30 million lying idle here. Another £10 million can be raised through new taxi licences.
It was lonely standing up with Tony Gregory TD to call for a roll-call vote in the interest of transparency and democracy. We were the only two out of 52 councillors. However, we did it on behalf of the ordinary people of Dublin and we are proud to challenge this Thatcherite poll tax. - Yours, etc.,
Cllr Finian McGrath, Charlemont, Dublin 9.