While the main purpose of this campaign - Abolition of Property Tax - remains firmly at the top of the agenda, there are other serious national issues, which are being incorporated into the campaign.
We welcome your suggestions, and expertise if you have expertise in any issue.
We welcome your suggestions, and expertise if you have expertise in any issue.
Local Government.
Local government is neither 'local' nor 'government'. As long as Ireland has had 'local government', it has essentially been nothing more than a 'talking shop', with very little power or authority vested in the democratically elected local representatives. Local government is not about 'party politics' - it is about ordinary citizens with a mandate, running their own city, town or county. The use of each council by political parties is nothing more than a 'training ground' for national politics. This must change.
When a local councilor hasn't the power to order the local council to fill in a pothole, then their democratic mandate is being ignored by 'city hall' - This must change.
When a candidate is rejected by the electorate within a specific ward/constituency, they automatically forego the possibility of gaining a seat on the local council during that term of office - yet, the councilors often "co-opt" that rejected candidate on to the council, against the wishes of the electorate - This must change.
We therefore demand immediate legislation for the following:
Local government is neither 'local' nor 'government'. As long as Ireland has had 'local government', it has essentially been nothing more than a 'talking shop', with very little power or authority vested in the democratically elected local representatives. Local government is not about 'party politics' - it is about ordinary citizens with a mandate, running their own city, town or county. The use of each council by political parties is nothing more than a 'training ground' for national politics. This must change.
When a local councilor hasn't the power to order the local council to fill in a pothole, then their democratic mandate is being ignored by 'city hall' - This must change.
When a candidate is rejected by the electorate within a specific ward/constituency, they automatically forego the possibility of gaining a seat on the local council during that term of office - yet, the councilors often "co-opt" that rejected candidate on to the council, against the wishes of the electorate - This must change.
We therefore demand immediate legislation for the following:
- The Minister and Senior Civil Servants to be held legally accountable and liable for their decisions, and for the management of their
departments in the public interest.
- Where a responsibility is delegated through several civil service grades, each grade will be held legally accountable and liable for their element of it.
- City/County Engineers and Architects to be held legally responsible and liable for the implementation and supervision of building standards and regulations.
- Enact legislation giving Councillors the power to seek reports from, and question in public, the providers of public services in their area.
- Enact legislation empowering Councillors to question private sector service providers, such as Internet and digital, TV providers, local banks or private schools, on their public service remit.
- Legislate to ban Political Parties from nominating Party candidates for local elections.
- Legislate for City and County Manager to be appointed by the Councillors for a period not exceeding the lifetime of the Council.
- Legislate for election of Mayor and Lord Mayor by the people.
- Legislate for the reintroduction of refuse collection and free collection of recyclable material.
- Legislate limiting Councillors remuneration to defined vouched expenses.
- Legislate limiting the election of business interests to 1/4 of the Council, of which 1/4 shall be Chamber of Commerce members.
- Legislate to prohibit the co-option of defeated candidates to the Council.
Septic Tank Charges.
The European Court of Justice has threatened Ireland with daily fines of up to €26,000 per day, for failing to ensure that waste-water is being properly disposed of and not causing pollution. There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that water from septic tanks have, or are, causing pollution. The HSE has never recorded a single case of Cryptosporidium being caused by a septic tank.
The only case of Cryptosporidium recorded, was the outbreak in Galway in 2008. That water was supplied through the water mains by Galway City/county Council.
Septic tanks have always been subject to planning permission. Are we now to believe that the Engineers in each planning department were negligent in performing their duty? That they allowed sub-standard septic tanks to be used and put the health of the nation at risk? If so, where is the evidence? Where is the polluted water?
In the absence of any proof of water pollution being caused by Septic Tanks - the charge must be abolished.
The European Court of Justice has threatened Ireland with daily fines of up to €26,000 per day, for failing to ensure that waste-water is being properly disposed of and not causing pollution. There is absolutely no evidence to suggest that water from septic tanks have, or are, causing pollution. The HSE has never recorded a single case of Cryptosporidium being caused by a septic tank.
The only case of Cryptosporidium recorded, was the outbreak in Galway in 2008. That water was supplied through the water mains by Galway City/county Council.
Septic tanks have always been subject to planning permission. Are we now to believe that the Engineers in each planning department were negligent in performing their duty? That they allowed sub-standard septic tanks to be used and put the health of the nation at risk? If so, where is the evidence? Where is the polluted water?
In the absence of any proof of water pollution being caused by Septic Tanks - the charge must be abolished.
We now demand on election to office, that the government will within 2 years, bring about a Constitutional Referendum to amend the constitution, prohibiting the government from imposing a tax on the primary residence of each and every citizen.