Bin Tax campaign, Increase in charges passed

The increase to the bin tax in Dublin was passed last week in extremely unusual circumstances .

Three Labour party councillors were absent some with excuse; a Fine Gael councillor broke with his party whip and voted for the increase.
A tied vote was broken when the Labour Mayor used his vote to pass the increase, running against party policy. What followed was the now all too typical sight of several parties launching at each other to point fingers, and blame, at whose action and inaction was to blame for this. The Socialist Party attacked Sinn Féin, and Labour Youth condemned their own mayor; who now faces expulsion from his own party. The bin tax campaign has been the scene of acrimonious attacks, with bitter words exchanged repeatedly between the smaller left wing parties . The environment minister Martin Cullen has earlier threatened to shut down Dublin County Council if the increased charges had not been passed.

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