SOCIALIST MEP FOR Dublin Paul Murphy says he has no intention of engaging with the Sheriff of Dublin’s office, after he received a number of letters and and a visit from an official on the issue of unpaid household and property taxes.
The politician, who is refusing to pay the annual charge on principle, said he was surprised that a visit was paid to his office in relation to the outstanding charges, considering that the outstanding debts relate to his home.
Revenue confirmed last month that a number of TDs who had been refusing to pay the Household Charge and Local Property Tax were having the tax deducted from their salary at source.
However, Murphy said that as his pay-cheque comes from Europe, Revenue had been unable to target him in that manner.
Letters sent from the sheriff’s office instructed the MEP he owed over €1100 in taxes and fees.
Murphy, who was substituted into the seat in 2011 after his party colleague Joe Higgins regained his Dáil seat, raised questions over the timing of the action by the sheriff’s office — coming in the middle of a European election campaign.
“Despite the tax being due for a whole period of time, they have chosen now, in the middle of an election campaign, to begin harassing me,” Murphy said.
What do they plan to take? Computers from the office, our printer, desks? Is this being done to disrupt the election campaign?
Murphy said a number of items of equipment in the office had been bought in his name, and that his staff had been warned they may be taken unless Murphy engages with the office. He said he had no intention of calling the sheriff’s office or engaging with them in any way.
In the Dáil — Joe Higgins, People Before Profit TD Joan Collins and Independents Clare Daly, Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan and Thomas Pringle are amongst those who have been refusing to pay the tax.
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