For Fianna Fail the ‘wrong time’ to introduce a property tax is when FF is in opposition

Fine Gael TD for Dublin North, Alan Farrell, has highlighted the blatantly populist stance being taken by Fianna Fáil in relation to the property tax.   Despite having signed up to the introduction of the property tax with the Troika, Fianna Fail is now opposing the tax.  

“Fianna Fáil’s late conversion to an anti-property tax stance last autumn reeks of political opportunism. It is patently clear to me that for Fianna Fáil, the right time to introduce a property tax is when FF is in Government and the wrong time is when FF is in opposition.

“Sometimes when faced with spin and bluster, we need to remind ourselves of the facts. The fact is that Fianna Fáil agreed to introduce the property tax with the EU/IMF/ECB Troika in December 2010.
Yet despite this it is now trying to present itself as an anti-property tax party.

“It is galling in the extreme to see Fianna Fáil try and take advantage of the pain that people are feeling as a result of their disastrous economic policies.

“Many people will see this for what it is – a cynical attempt by Fianna Fáil to curry favour with the public.
Fianna Fáil knows well that we need to generate this money to fund our local services. They know this because they wrecked the economy and left Ireland on the brink of bankruptcy.

“Given the mess that they made of the country, it’s disconcerting to see Fianna Fáil engaging in this type of politics. Unfortunately that is what we’ve come to expect.”