Campaigners criticise Shatter 'arrogance' on household charge

Remarks by Justice Minister Alan Shatter advising protestors against the household charge to "get a life" have been criticised by campaigners today.

Remarks by Justice Minister Alan Shatter advising protestors against the household charge to "get a life" have been criticised by campaigners today.

Speaking as he entered the Fine Gael Ard Fheis last night Minister Shatter warned: "If you don’t pay it, you can be brought before the courts and fined."

He strongly criticised Sinn Féin and Independent TDs who are opposing the controversial €100 charge.

"I think Sinn Féin and the promised protesters for tomorrow should just get a life," he said, adding that "a mountain had been made out of a molehill" on the issue.

"When you're a multi-millionaire lawyer, Minister, landlord, investor and property owner like Mr Shatter, then €100 certainly is a molehill," said Ruth Coppinger of the Campaign Against Household & Water Taxes (CAHWT).

"However, for ordinary people in this country it is not."

Ms Coppinger said Minister Shatter and his party colleages "have no concept of real life" in Ireland.

A protest against the household charge organised by the CAHWT will take place in Dublin today.

"This magnificent mass movement of around a million households is a statement on four years of austerity and is highly significant," Ms Coppinger said.

"We call on people to protest today at 1pm at Parnell Square marching to the FG Ard Fheis against the arrogance and bullying by Fine Gael on this issue."

Meanwhile officials said that as of 10am this morning, deadline day for payment of the €100 levy, some 650,068 householders had registered their properties.

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