LEGISLATION that will introduce a household charge on every household in Ireland has been delayed until after next week's budgets because of concerns raised by the Attorney General.
A household tax of €100 had been predicted to be one of the predicted measures for the Budget on December 6th. However, that bill has now been delayed according to Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
TDs were due to debate all stages of the Local Government (Household Charges) Bill 2011 on Thursday before voting on the measure which would likely see a €100 household charge introduced.
However, the debate has now been postponed because Attorney General Marie Whelan has some concerns over it, according to the Taoiseach.
Speaking in the Dáil on Tuesday, Mr Kenny would not be drawn on what those concerns were but said such instances are not unusual.
The bill will now likely have to wait until after the Budget before it is debated and passed through the Dáil by the government.
Confidential documents submitted to the German parliament earlier this month under Ireland’s bailout agreement revealed that the charge was on the cards but so far the government has not outlined the specific details of it.
It is understood, however, that the government expects to bring in €160 million through the new tax.
