Tap tax delay doesn't give Executive excuse to bury their heads in the sand

11.30.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 11th May 2007

Alliance Chief Whip Kieran McCarthy MLA

Alliance Chief Whip Kieran McCarthy MLA has welcomed the delay in water charges but stated that the problem must not simply be swept under the carpet for it to raise its ugly head next year. He also said that Alliance will keep piling the pressure on the Executive Parties to achieve a fairer income and consumption based system.

The Strangford Alliance MLA said: "While I welcome the delay, postponement of the tap tax itself is not enough - this issue must not simply be swept under the carpet until it raises its ugly head next year.

"The only fair system would be an income and consumption based scheme. We want to stop older people and those on lower incomes from being dealt a potentially devastating blow from these charges. We need also to ensure that the scheme adheres to the polluter pays principle to ensure that this matter includes an environmental protection element to it.

"There must also be no disgraceful double payment for water. This issue must be addressed urgently.

"The problem of tap tax will not vanish simply because is has been delayed for a while. The Executive cannot afford to bury their heads in the sand just because they have been given a year's reprieve on tap tax. They must create a system that is based on income and consumption, and Alliance will keep piling the pressure onto the Executive parties to get them to do so."

ENDS