Taoiseach Enda Kenny insisted there was no legal obligation on people to pay next year's property tax in the remaining weeks of this year.
“The tax for 2014 is due in 2014,” he said, adding that nobody was prevented from paying this year if they wished.
He said that there were two dates involved. The first was relevant if a person decided to respond through the postal system, and he or she must notify the Revenue Commissioners by November 7th of the option that best suited. If a person notified the Revenue Commissioners online, the relevant date was November 27th.
The letter from the Revenue Commissioners only went to those who did not have a direct payments system in place, he added.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said that represented six out of every 10 people. Mr Kenny said it was merely an opportunity for the Revenue Commissioners to remind people of all the options to pay the tax next year.
Fianna Fáil critique
Mr Martin insisted it was more than a reminder. "It is telling them that if they pay by credit card, they will pay this year,
” he added. “Be honest about it.”
The Taoiseach said there was no question, as had been suggested, that there was "a Government money grab". He said Minister for Finance Michael Noonan had made it clear that the preference of the Government and the Department of Finance were to receive payments next year.
Mr Martin claimed there was an incoherence at the heart of Government on the topic, adding that the relevant legislation could be amended to say that nobody should be required to pay next year’s tax this year.
Distressed elderly citizens
Replying to Sinn Fé
in leader Gerry Adams, the Taoiseach said he was well aware that the Revenue Commissioners had sent letters to people.
Mr Adams said elderly citizens and those who were struggling financially were distressed after receiving the letters demanding next year's payment by the end of this month.
“The policy is wrong because it is wrong,” he added. “It is totally and absolutely unfair.”
Mr Kenny said it was necessary for the Revenue Commissioners, in their independence, to remind people that the 2014 property tax was due, and due only, in 2014. All they had said was they were asking people to let them know which option they would choose and which was most suitable to pay the tax next year.
Mr Adams said the Taoiseach was aware the letter was going to go out to 960,000 citizens, demanding they pay before the end of the year.
“It is a very blunt, unjust, unfair revenue-raising exercise,” he added. People in the North got services for their rates, he said.
