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25 November 2004 Edition

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Threats to shut down City Council - Protests greet massive bin tax hike

Sinn Féin Councillor Daithí Doolan has demanded that Government threats to shut down Dublin City Council if the city's budget (which includes a massive increase in bin charges) is not passed, must be lifted immediately. Doolan said the Council must be allowed to run the City and what is required is greater autonomy and resources for Local Government, not more diktats from central government.

"For the last number of years the run up to Christmas has become synonymous with the thorny issue of bin charges and government threats to shut down Dublin Council if the city's budget is not passed," he said.

"Sinn Féin opposes bin charges and our ten Councillors on the City Council will be voting against the adoption of the budget, which contains a massive increase in bin charges.

"What is clear is that the City Council has completely failed to tackle the waste management crisis that we face. What is also clear is that the issue of bin charges has absolutely nothing to do with a waste management strategy and is merely a device to raise finance through a crude form of double taxation. A senior Dublin City Council official has admitted that even if the money could be got from other sources that bin charges would remain.

"Sinn Féin has put forward a number of recommendations regarding the financing of local government. These include rates on government buildings and a bed tax on hotels in the city.

"Minister Roche needs to remove threats to shut down Dublin City Council and allow us to get on with governing the city."

• There wll be an Anti-Bin Tax Protest on Monday 29 November outside City Hall on Dame Street at 6:30pm.

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An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland