Sinn Féin to intensify campaign against Family Home Tax in Cork

Sinn Féin to intensify campaign against Family Home Tax in Cork Sinn Féin is to intensify its campaign in opposition to the Family Home Tax by holding a series of public meetings throughout Cork in the coming weeks. The first of these meetings will take place on Monday March 4th at 7.30pm in Riverstown Community Centre, Glanmire. The main speaker will be Sinn Féin’s Education Spokesperson and Cork North-Central TD Deputy Jonathan O’Brien. Meetings will also take place on the following dates: · Thursday, March 7th, 7.30pm – Darby Arms, Ballincollig. · Monday, March 11th, 7.30pm – Carrigaline Court Hotel, Carrigaline. · Friday, March 22nd, 7.30pm – St. Joseph’s Community Centre, Mayfield. Sinn Féin is also planning to hold similar meetings in Bishopstown/Togher, Ballyphehane, Mahon/Blackrock and further meetings on the Northside of the city. Sinn Féin leader on Cork City Council Cllr. Chris O’Leary said: “We are strongly opposed to the inequitable Family Home Tax. That it really is a Family Home Tax and not a Property Tax is proven by the fact that it will be levied on the rents of local authority tenants who do not own the council properties which are their homes. In most cases these are families and individuals on low or moderate incomes and they are to be further levied with this unjust tax. “In the current economic climate it is another burden on struggling families." “We believe such a property tax on rents for properties which they do not own would be open to legal challenge. We have learned this week that the Fine Gael/Labour Government is planning to legislate to require local authorities to impose this tax on tenants.” “This campaign has the aim of encouraging members of the public to pressure on their local TDs, who may support the tax, to change their stance and to vote in favour of legislation to scrap the tax of the family home and the Household Charge. Sinn Féin has drafted legislation to repeal the tax just as the party did with the Household Charge. It is ready to go and our team in the Dáil will table it at the earliest opportunity. “These series of meetings will give people an opportunity to engage with the party on the issue in a public setting.”