A senior Government Minister says after four years of cutbacks, he thinks the majority of people saw the household charge as an opportunity to "kick back" and not pay.
Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte admits the Government has huge lessons to learn from the debacle – which saw less than 50 per cent of those liable for the 100 euro tax actually paying.
But the Minister is confident the 800-thousand or so who still must pay, will have done so by the summer recess:
Meanwhile,
Sinn Féin’s renewed its call for the household charge to be scrapped.
It comes as the Cabinet meets to discuss the compliance rate with the 100 euro charge – just half of those liable registered to pay it by last Saturday’s deadline.
Party President Gerry Adams says it should be replaced by a third rate of income tax>
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