TD told to 'pay household charge'

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has challenged Independent TD Thomas Pringle to pay his household charge.

Mr Pringle is among a group of opposition TDs campaigning against and refusing to pay the €100 tax, claiming it is an unfair levy on hard-pressed householders.

During leaders' questions the Donegal South-West deputy had criticised the path the Government was taking to deal with the economy and said it was the wrong one.

He said "there is an alternative to penalising people while still generating the revenue required".

Referring to reports about proposed cuts in maternity benefit, he called on the Taoiseach not to increase the burden on those who could not pay more but "ensure that those who can pay do".

Mr Pringle said "we should be targeting the people who can afford to pay and make the people who can pay, pay and save the people who need our help".

But Mr Kenny, who said he had not read the report about maternity benefit, called on Mr Pringle to pay the household charge, claiming hw opposed it for "opportunistic purposes".

He said "I would invite you…..as you can well afford to do so to pay your household charge which would go in part to the provision of services for the elderly people in Killybegs and the constituency that you serve.

"You come in here as a legislator. This is the law of the land and you take a deliberate opposite view for opportunistic purposes. You are well able to pay the €100 household charge and I invite you to do that as well."