Councillor refuses to resign over bin charge issue

In a row that involves bin charges, a Waterford city councillor who has been instructed by his party to resign his seat has refused and claimed he will leave the party instead.

Workers' Party council member, John Halligan received a letter this week, requesting that he vacate his seat on the council for replacement by another candidate.

The Workers' Party had rejected the city budget in December because it contained domestic refuse charges.

However, Mr Halligan, a renowned social campaigner, yesterday said he had thought for a number of years that the party needed to "rethink its strategy and attitude" to the city's estimates, as adopted by the council in December.

A dogged defender of his constituents in areas such as Larchville, Lisduggan and Ballybeg, Mr Halligan wished to support the vote adopting the council's budget. His party colleague, Cllr Davy Walsh, following the traditional party line, wanted to oppose it, hailing it is a "double form of taxation".

However, following advice from the party, they abstained from voting.

Mr Halligan yesterday stressed that while he would leave the party, he would not stand down as a local representative. He now planned to contest next year's local elections, possibly as a non-party candidate.

"I believe that our strategy is seriously flawed," he said. The party had backed itself into a corner with its "continuous opposition" with regard to the city's estimates. "I firmly believe that the estimates should have been supported on the basis that there was very good thinking in it.

"I believe it was right for the people of Waterford city . . . not for John Halligan and not for any party politics or otherwise."

Mr Halligan said he was the first person to call for the establishment of an anti-social behaviour officer, while extra funding was sought by him and other councillors regarding the issue.

Sports and community grant funding including other initiatives supporting the disadvantaged came out of the city's estimates, it emerged.

"I'm not going to fall out with John Halligan . . . I have a job to do with the Workers' Party and to put across Workers' Party policies," Mr Walsh said yesterday.

He criticised the budget for containing a water charge for schools.

"There was never a greater need for somebody to stand up against services charges . . . It's incredible that more charges are coming down the tracks," Mr Walsh said.

"I oppose them; I believe it is double taxation. Every time you go out and spend a penny, there's a tax on it and that's supposed to go to the Government.

"What the hell are we paying tax for if the Government can't meet their commitments?" he asked.