John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I congratulate my constituency colleague and friend, Deputy Phil Hogan, on his appointment as Minister and wish him well in his task. It is one of the busier Departments and he has responsibility for many functions which he is well capable of fulfilling. I wish him and his colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Willie Penrose, the best of luck.

Deputy Kevin Humphreys spoke about Deputy Seán Fleming's criticism of the previous Minister and his actions in regard to the proposed incinerator in Poolbeg. I agree with Deputy Humphrey's that it is a bit rich to listen to a man who was part of a government which for four years supported the policies the former Minister pursued accuse him of engaging in parish pump politics on the issue. However, it is no surprise to witness that level of hypocrisy.

I welcome a couple of aspects of the Bill. Shortly after I was elected to Kilkenny County Council for the first time waste management and incineration became huge national issues. At the time the level of recycling being achieved by the local authority in Kilkenny and I am sure by local authorities in most parts of the country was very low. It is worth pointing out that we have witnessed a significant improvement in the past 12 years in the level of recycling among households and businesses. There has been a sea change in attitude among the public to waste reduction, their local communities and the plastic bag levy which has been an outstanding success in terms of its implementation. There is now room to look at the possibility of imposing a levy on other goods which cause serious litter problems.

Where I live in County Kilkenny is quite close to Waterford city; it is in the middle of approximately 5,000 acres of State forestry. However, it is the scene of the most horrendous dumping of household and business waste. I know it is not directly related to this legislation, but it is an issue that needs urgent action by local authorities in cracking down on the level of littering experienced.

Deputy Kevin Humphreys was right about extending the plastic bag levy scheme to cover chewing gum, glass bottles, plastic bottles and other items which are common among the litter on our streets. The Minister should consider the introduction of such a levy.

The Bill is a genuine attempt by the Government to reduce further the amount of waste going to landfill, the most harmful method of disposing of waste in terms of the effect on the environment. I welcome the fact that this is central to the legislation which is why I support it. Again, I wish the Minister and the Minister of State the very best.

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