Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)

While Sinn Féin favours any move that furthers environmental protection, there are many aspects of the Bill with which we would take issue as they heavily penalise the ordinary working person while not addressing the amount of waste which is produced by manufacturers and wholesalers, which is unreasonable. If we are to stop illegal dumping we need to get to the source of it. This Bill should be used as a mechanism to compel manufacturers and wholesalers to reduce the amount of waste they produce. Furthermore, there is nothing in the Bill to increase the fines for illegal dumping, which is a major problem in Laois-Offaly.

Sinn Féin is committed to the promotion of a zero-waste strategy that rejects incineration, keeps landfill to a minimum and supports waste reduction, reuse and recycling, closure of all unsafe landfill sites and full remediation of contaminated sites that are not operating properly. We continue to oppose the environmentally destructive policy of incineration even if it is called thermal treatment.

Sinn Féin takes a rights-based approach to the environment. Having a clean environment is a right that must be upheld to achieve a better quality of life. The Bill represents a lost opportunity for the Minister to set progressive time-framed targets to minimise waste going to landfill. There must be legislative provision to compel industrial and commercial producers of waste to reduce waste production in a planned, targeted and accountable manner, but the Bill in its current format does not do that. Instead, it introduces a provision to allow a Minister to set a plastic bag levy as high as 70 cent. The plastic bag levy has been progressive and has now been introduced in the other part of the island, in the North. It has been a good measure that has reduced the amount of waste from plastic bags. A few years ago the hedgerows and ditches were decorated with plastic bags that were blue, yellow, green and every other colour. The provision allowing the Minister to set the plastic bag levy up to 70 cent is not a good measure. It leaves too much leeway and will penalise people. While it may be designed to be in line with the consumer price index and allow for inflation over a few years, can any Government be trusted to not hike it above what would be reasonable? If it thought it was another opportunity to make money out of those who are already strapped for cash, it would do it. This provision is something nice for the Minister to present so that he can say he is doing something about waste reduction but it does not matter that it will not do what it needs to do.

The provision will have no impact on manufacturers and wholesalers who wrap their products in layers upon layers of plastic. We are committed to robust environmental protection and we believe this necessarily involves the use of legislation that challenges the attitudes and practices of businesses and consumers alike and promotes behavioural change. The introduction of the plastic bag levy was effective in promoting behavioural change, but such measures should not only be directed towards the individual consumer, they also need to be directed towards businesses. Less plastic and waste would be good for them as it would be a cost-saving mechanism for businesses. Easter is coming and we know that there will be plenty of Easter eggs sold. The wrapping on Easter eggs is a good example of what I am talking about.

The previous Government did not have a good record on this. There was promotion of incineration and illegal dumping owing to high charges - the whole thing was a disaster. The previous speaker made the point I wanted to make. The problem lies with the waste that is not in the system. Between 30% and 40% is not going anywhere that we know of but when one walks down country roads one can see where it is going - it is going into ditches and hedgerows. This Government will be doomed to repeat this if it does not take a different direction.

The Minister needs to takes a constructive approach in creating an environmentally sound, sustainable future for all of Ireland. This should be anchored in the promotion of a zero-waste strategy that rejects incineration, keeps landfill to an absolute minimum and supports waste reduction, reuse and recycling. The danger with the Bill is that if levies are set at too high a rate it will merely have the effect of encouraging illegal dumping - the Bill does not increase the fines for illegal dumping. Our recycling infrastructure is poor and the Minister must address this urgently.

We must consider the viability of the landfill sites in my constituency of Laois-Offaly at Kyletalesha and other locations. We must also investigate the incidence of illegal dumping in areas such as Clonreher Bog. We support strong environmental regulation at all-Ireland and EU levels as the only way to protect the right to a clean environment. The Minister has a responsibility to legislate and regulate proactively to safeguard the air, rivers, lakes, wetlands, boglands, remaining forests, coastal zones and seas. That means actively tackling and combating illegal dumping as part of a range of environmental measures. We support the polluter pays principle, but it must be applied in a manner that does not disproportionately penalise those on lower incomes or small businesses against big businesses.

There are two waste management facilities in my constituency. I am alarmed at the announcement by the Minister that landfill charges will increase in September to €50 per tonne and next year to €65 per tonne. I recently stepped down from the county council, but I am aware that the viability of these landfill sites is hanging in the balance. The Minister has indicated that the average rate of landfill fees is approximately €112 per tonne. Local authorities are doing deals far below that level to try to keep the tonnage going into landfill sites to retain their viability. The good news is that they are trying to ensure these landfill sites have cells that are properly lined and that leachate and methane gas are being handled properly. That all costs money. I am concerned that if the levy is increased without other measures being in place, we may go over the tipping point in terms of the viability of landfill sites. The Minister has announced today that he will go ahead with an increase, but I urge him to take the point into consideration before he imposes an increase in charges.

In general, the State's environmental record has been poor. We failed to meet the European Union's carbon emission standards and the waste reduction targets. There have been increased incidents of flooding as a consequence of the failure to protect flood plains from development, as well as consistent violations of EU water quality standards. While I welcome the Minister's commitment to the environment, it is not enough. Robust action must start at home with each person in the community. That means ensuring all of us are guaranteed as a right a safe and sustainable environment and the facilities to make that happen.

The Minister must ensure local authorities fulfil their obligations in areas for which they are directly responsible and also that businesses and others comply with the relevant regulations dealing with environmental protection and waste management. Part of this must involve devolving as much power as possible to locally elected representatives and the community. The previous Government removed these powers. Deputy Fleming and I debated at local level the issue of county managers being given powers to handle waste in the regions. We in Sinn Féin believe that was a retrograde step. It is important that local representatives who are elected by the people have that responsibility. In turn, that would put responsibility on the people who elect them. It would make us all take personal responsibility. Previous Governments have removed too many powers in this area from local authorities and transferred them to unelected managers or a Minister. That has had serious implications for waste management and resulted in unnecessary incineration plans, overdependence on landfill, the imposition of double taxation service charges for waste collection and also an increase in the incidence of illegal dumping. That is the big issue with which the Government and all of us must come to terms and address.

As part of a progressive movement away from landfill towards reduction, reuse and recycling, we are supportive of a landfill levy, but the polluter pays principle must be applied consistently. There must be sufficient funding for recycling infrastructure and widespread provision of public recycling amenities. What is in place works well. We would also support measures to eradicate illegal dumping, including increased enforcement and penalties. The law in that regard must be re-examined. Sinn Féin welcomes the intent of the Bill, but much more must be done. I will table amendments in an attempt to rectify some of the matters I have raised.

There is a need for a waiver scheme for low income households. We must factor in the implications of continuing on the same road and what will happen if it becomes more expensive to dispose of waste. I urge the Minister to address the issue.

Methane gas is being burned off at some landfill sites. It is not being used for any purpose. Perhaps the Minister might examine the issue. Sizeable quantities of methane gas are being burned off with no benefit gained.

Reference is made in the Bill to sealing and labelling bags of fuel for sale. A previous speaker referred to bags of sticks. It is not practical to seal and label bags of firewood. It is totally unnecessary. I would like to see this provision excised from the Bill. Neither is there a need to label bags of turf or peat. People cut turf and sell it door to door or it is sold at the local shop. I urge the Minister to deal with the issue. The new regulation is totally unnecessary. One could ask who will implement it. In some cases local authorities are losing up to 100 staff each. There will not be enough staff to go around following people in pick-up trucks to see whether bags are sealed or labelled. I presume the intention of the Minister is to differentiate between smokeless and non-smokeless coal. I urge him to clarify the position on the sale of turf and firewood.

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