Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is no doubt that he is well ahead. He is streets ahead. I welcome the officials and thank Mr. McCarthy for his presentation.

I presume the transfrontier shipment of waste is both ways, with illegal waste being brought into the country also. Recently I raised an issue with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government by way of parliamentary question on foot of a report commissioned by the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly which looked at illegal fuel laundering and the diesel residue dumped along the Border, specifically counties Louth, Monaghan, Cavan and Donegal. Total expenditure by the Department in respect of these local authorities is just over €5 million, with Louth County Council receiving €3.79 million since 2011. On the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the costs associated with repatriating waste from north of the Border, what is the Department doing to recoup some of the €5.04 million from Northern Ireland?