The notion that cutting local government spending wouldn’t save the country or bring justice to bankers, and therefore it shouldn’t be touched at all, is a logical fallacy, writes Aaron McKenna.
Homeowners will be given guidance as to how much of the local property tax they are liable for but will be invited to self-assess during administration of the charge later this year.
Hogan thanked all those who had registered their properties and paid the charge, saying €113.35 million has been collected and reallocated to local authorities.
Just under 70 per cent of eligible households have paid or registered to pay the controversial €100 tax but that is only after a year of much protest and mis-management.
The agency responsible for administering and collecting the charge says that householders who have received a letter but have paid the charge should contact them.
The latest figures show that around 36,000 properties have registered to pay since last Thursday evening but that’s less than fifth of the number eventually expected to pay.
GARDAÍ ARE SET to be granted new powers to use facial-recognition technology that could lead to the rapid identification of criminals.
The technology enables police forces to carry out automated searches of video footage for suspects in criminal investigations.
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Minister for Justice Helen McEntee is expected to announce the move at the Garda Representative Association annual conference today.
The minister will say the introduction of facial-recognition technology will greatly assist murder, child exploitation and missing persons investigations.
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) said it is “strongly opposed” to the technology being used by law enforcement, saying An Garda Síochána has a “poor record on data protection”.
“FRT [facial-recognition technology] and other biometric surveillance tools enable mass surveillance and discriminatory targeted surveillance
“They have the capacity to identify and track people everywhere they go, undermining the right to privacy and data protection, the right to free assembly and association, and the right to equality and non-discrimination,” the ICCL said.
So, today we’re asking: How do you feel about gardaí using facial recognition technology to identify suspects?
Poll Results:
I fully support it (5516)
I have some concerns, but am broadly in favour (3301)
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