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Bertie Heckled in Bin Tax Protest
 dublin |
bin tax/household tax |
press release
 Monday December 08, 2003 16:29 by pat c
Dublin Campaign Against the Bin Tax
Bertie Heckled in Bin Tax Protest
8th December 2003
The Dublin Campaign Against the Bin Tax today held a protest at Binns Bridge
in Drumcondra to highlight the ongoing opposition to the Bin Tax and double
taxation. A press photo shoot staged to raise the profiles of Bertie Ahern and Lord
Mayor Royston Brady was heckled by a token protest by members of the local
Ballybough-Clonliffe Campaign against the Bin Tax
Joe Mooney, Secretary of the Dublin Campaign, said:
"It is quite ironic to see Bertie Ahern attempting to co-opt such as anti-establishment
figure as Brendan Behan to boost their ?Golden Circle? government. It is
highly likely that if Brendan Behan was around today he would oppose the
Bin Tax and Mr Ahern?s cronies would have no problem locking him up across
the canal.
Mr Mooney continued:
"Today the press has revealed that Environment Minister Martin Cullen will
allocate e700 million to the Local Government Fund for 2004. It is positive
that there has been a recognition of the need for adequate funding for local
services and that this should come from central government, paid for from
our taxes. However this is just a once off payment for 2004 and will mainly
be directed at fulfilling benchmarking commitments. The suspicion arises
that the aim of the subsidy is to remove the need for huge stealth tax rises
for local services in 2004, which just happens to be a Local Election year."
Alec Robertson, secretary of the Ballybough-Clonliffe Campaign said:
"Mr Ahern will face many more such protests until the Government orders
local authorities to collect all bins and scraps this unjust and unfair
tax. Support for the campaign remains strong and non-payment figures for
Dublin City Council areas vindicate our claim that compliance with the Bin
Tax amounts to just under 30%, with over 45% having paid nothing or just
a portion of the double tax. Our message remains the same ? "Don?t Panic,
Don?t Pay.""
[ENDS]
+++++++++++++++++++++
APPENDIX:
Figures for Dublin City Council Bin Tax for 2003 (obtained under Freedom
of Information Act)
Total billed 164,136 (100%)
39,500 Waivers (24.06%)
48,927 Paid in full for 2001, 2002, 2003 (29.80%)
30,000 Paid Nothing (18.27%)
45,709 Paid something from introduction of charge to 31.12.02 (27.84%)
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Comments (9 of 9)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9You didnt mention Education cuts or Health cuts or Shannon or Racism!
For A Socialist Federation of Campaigns!
As one of those who was on today's protest I have to say well done to everyone. Its hard to get anyone at lunchtime on a working day, so credit to all who turned up. People who were there were very supportive of what we did. Brendan Behan's daughter came over to us and held our placards for a few minutes. The man himself (Brendan Behan) must have been spinning in his grave to see Ahern and his ilk trying to capitalise in for a few cheap photo opportunities and stunts. Have to say the Gardai were a bit on the aggressive side. They threatened to arrest us under the Public Order Act if we didn't stop shouting and heckling at Ahern! Since when is shouting a crime?
DUBLIN City's bin charges are set to soar by 23pc next year and they will continue to rise for the foreseeable future, city manager John Fitzgerald warned last night.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Cabra/Dunard/Navan Road Campaign
Anti Bin Tax Benefit in Voodoo Lounge (Arran Quay)
Friday 12th December.
3 bands & DJ incl. reggae band, King Sativa.
5 euro & late bar. Please Support.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Court Picket
On 12th December the High Court will be hearing the test case of 3 Finglas
residents in relation to non-payment of the Bin Tax.
Picket: Friday December 12th. High Court, Four Courts @ 10am.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
City Council Meeting
City Council meeting to vote on estimates. These are expected to include
increases in Bin Charges, so this is an important demo.
Monday December 15th City Hall, Dame Street @ 6.00pm
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
All Dublin Activists Meeting
There was a special all Dublin activist meeting on Saturday 6th December
in the Central Hotel. Included activists from Fingal, South County Dublin,
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown and Dublin City.
There is a report on proceedings here:
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=62576
For most householders the increase will be from 154 Euro to 195 Euro, that is 27%.
For small bins, 90 Euro to 110 Euro, more than 22%.
For people using the 'eurobin' 130 Euro to 160 Euro, that is 23%.
From todays "Irish Times":
......Mr Behan addressed Mr Aherne directly saying "There is nobody further removed from Behans spirit than yourself"....... and went on to say.........."What has Bertie Aherne got in common with Brendan Behan, other than they are both Irish? When you see what is happening with the fat cats in this country, with Bertie Aherne and his government, I can't think of anyone further from the spirit of Brendan Behan. Shannon being used as an American air base for waging war on another country, was that in the spirit of Brendan Behan?"
"When the revolution comes, it will not come terrible, as an army with banners,
but as a corporation dustman, tidying away the rubbish of the age" - Brendan Behan.
Online only thru paid sub.
Irish Times
09/12/2003
Ahern incurs wrath of Paudge Behan
By Olivia Kelly
It was not appropriate for the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, to officially unveil
a statue of Brendan Behan as there was "nobody further removed" from the
writer's spirit, a member of the Behan family has said.
Mr Paudge Behan, the son of Brendan Behan's widow Beatrice, said his family
did not choose to have Mr Ahern officiate at the unveiling of a statue to
Behan at the Royal Canal, Dublin, yesterday, and he "was not happy" that
the Taoiseach attended.
Speaking at the event, Mr Ahern said that along with other Dubliners he
was proud that Brendan Behan, "hailed from these parts". Referring to the
statue of Patrick Kavanagh at the Grand Canal, on the south side of the
city, he added, "I know I'm slightly biased as a northsider, but I think
it's about time the scales were balanced."
When asked to say a few words after the Taoiseach's address, Mr Behan addressed
Mr Ahern directly saying: "There is nobody further removed from Behan's
spirit than yourself."
Mr Behan later explained that his family had not been consulted about who
would attend the event in an official capacity and he wasn't pleased the
Taoiseach attended.
"What has Bertie Ahern in common with Brendan Behan, other than they are
both Irish? When you see what is happening with the fat cats in this country,
with Bertie Ahern and his Government, I can't think of anyone further from
the spirit of Brendan Behan. Shannon being used as an American air base
for waging war on another country, was that in the spirit of Brendan Behan?"
Mr Behan said he was very pleased with the statue, a life-size bronze sculpted
by John Coll, depicting Behan as a young man seated on a canal bank bench.
"It's a beautiful piece of art, very cleverly designed."
The unveiling of the statue was attended by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Mr
Royston Brady, the Dublin City Manager, Mr John Fitzgerald, and actor Niall
Tóbín.
I have been told that there is an article in The Sun that carried most of the press release. Will have to steel myself to purchase The Scum. Oh well!
Overall a nice little shower on Bertie's Parade.