Council introduces waste charges

Dublin City Council voted last night to introduce charges for waste management after three Labour Party councillors broke ranks and voted in favour of the motion.

The council voted by 25 votes to 22 to introduce a £95 annual domestic charge in the city, with immediate effect. Households with low waste will pay a charge of £65. For those on social welfare, pensions, and whose income is not up to taxable levels, the service is free.

The Labour Party group opposed the charges and employed the whip. However, Councillors Sean Kenny (Donaghmede) - until Thursday leader of the Labour group on the council- Eamonn O'Brien (Ballymun) and Anthony Creevey (Artane) voted in favour.

A statement later by the Labour group that it was removing the whip from the three was described as "a charade" by Independent councillor Tony Gregory TD.

The council faced dissolution had it not introduced the charges last night.

The motion introducing the charges was proposed by Cllr Michael Donnelly of Fianna Fail and seconded by Mr Eamon Ryan of the Green Party. It was supported by Fine Gael councillors.

Sinn Fein and Independent councillors, including Mr Gregory, opposed the charges.

After the meeting Cllr Tommy Broughan TD said the three colleagues who broke party ranks on the vote would be expelled from their group on the council. He said he had not expected them to vote as they did and was "very disappointed" as the Labour Party was "implacably opposed" to the charges. Cllr Roisin Shorthall TD said the three "could have abstained" and "would now suffer the consequences".

Mr Gregory had asked for a roll call vote during last night's meeting but was supported only by an Independent councillor, Mr Finian McGrath. He needed the support of three more to get the motion through. Later last night he said "the whole thing was pre-arranged between the three (Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labour) party leaders".

The vote was orchestrated to save the council and the three Labour councillors became "sacrificial lambs", he said. This was "a temporary charade to give the impression Labour was not involved in any pact". Labour "was putting on an act", he said. He felt strongly about the issue because "I believe fervently in the truth". Labour was trying "to hoodwink everyone", he said.