Posted online: Sep 27th, 2011

Members of the public are being ecouraged to sign a petition against Government proposals to introduce a septic tank charge.
The charge has been described as “a tax too far” by Sinn Fein Donegal North East TD Padraig Mac Lochlainn.
The petition was launched at a meeting in the Colgan Hall in Carndonagh last week organised by Sinn Fein to “build enough people power” to prevent the charge being introduced.
A packed hall was told by Sinn Fein Donegal North East TD Padraig Mac Lochlainn the numbers attending the meeting showed the level of anger at the proposed charges.
Deputy Mac Lochlainn said: “Over 120 people packed into the Colgan Hall tonight. This is a gauge not only of the level of anger at the proposed charges but also of the willingness to fight the government’s plans to attempt to drain more money out of rural communities.”
Deputy Mac Lochlainn added: “For the Government to take advantage of an old EU directive as a means of raising additional revenue is unfair and unjust and is a tax too far.”
Speaking after the meeting, Deputy Mac Lochlainn’s party colleague, Cllr Jack Murray said its purpose was to inform the people of Inishowen of the government’s planned legislation on septic tank charges.
“We also explained the European Court ruling which the Government blames for their charges and outlined how this matter is being dealt with in other parts of Europe.”
Cllr Murray concluded: “Crucially, we want to build enough people power to influence policy decisions by the Minister for Environment before the legislation is presented to Dáil.”