16th January 2003

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Dublin City Council facing the chop

Sinn Fein group leader on Dublin City Council, Councillor Christy Burke, has called on the people of Dublin to come out in suppport of democracy and defend their right to proper representation. He is seeking public support for an anti bin tax protest in advance of what might be the last meeting of Dublin Council. Environment Minister Martin Cullen plans to give the Council the chop if Councillors don't impose increased service charges on the people of Dublin.

Councillor Burke said:

``It is outrageous that Dublin City Council, the largest local authority in the state, can be threatened with the chop for simply not making decisions that the government wants them to make. The government have some cheek to look on democratically elected councillors as puppets to obey their dictats or on local government as a conveyer belt for their policies.

``We as Councillors are elected to represent the interests of our constituents. Our constituents are opposed to increased service charges, therefore our actions must reflect this.

``We are calling on the people of Dublin to attend the protest tonight at 6.15pm outside City Hall to show their opposition to the increased charges, support for democracy in their city and to show Minister Cullen that they won't stand for their Council getting the chop.''

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