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Household charge

In pictures: Household charge protesters rally in campaign against payment

The 2,000-seater National Stadium wasn’t able to hold all of those who gathered for today’s protest.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE have gathered at the National Stadium in Dublin for today’s national rally to protest the household charge payment introduced in the last Budget.

The flat-rate €100 charge has been described by the government as a first step towards the introduction of a property tax.

Nine TDs are backing the campaign calling for a boycott of the payment which is due by the end of this month. However, TheJournal.ie learned today that three of those TDs were unhappy about the Socialist Party being given “key” speaking slots at today’s rally.

The 2,000-seat venue was packed to capacity and a crowd of people who were unable to get into the stadium gathered outside:

In pictures: Household charge protesters rally in campaign against payment
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  • Campaign Against the Household Charge

    Protesters stand beside the number of people that they say wont pay the charge. (Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland)
  • Campaign Against the Household Charge

    Inside the stadium. (Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland)
  • Campaign Against the Household Charge

    (Image via Anna Przybylo)
  • Campaign Against the Household Charge

    (Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland)
  • Campaign Against the Household Charge

    (Image via Anna Przybylo)
  • Campaign Against the Household Charge

    (Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland)
  • Campaign Against the Household Charge

    (Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland)
  • Campaign Against the Household Charge

    (Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland)
  • Campaign Against the Household Charge

    (Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland)
  • Campaign Against the Household Charge

    (Image via Anna Przybylo)
  • Campaign Against the Household Charge

    TD Joe Higgins addresses crowds outside the National Staduim in Dublin. (Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland)
  • Campaign Against the Household Charge

    (Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland)

Over 80 per cent of households have not paid the charge.

The Department of the Environment says that late payment fees will be introduced after the payment deadline passes at the end of March.

There have been repeated calls for the payment to be processed through post offices, with the most recent coming from postmasters who say that they have been “inundated” with people trying to pay the charge through the post office.

Poll: Have you paid the household charge? >

Three anti-household charge TDs unhappy with national rally >

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