Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses who are present today. I am a bit concerned about the answers we have received in relation to Northern Ireland. It seems to me that a scheme of this kind should have been implemented on an agreed North-South basis. From the answers we got, it appears to me that although there was a desire for some kind of co-ordination there has not actually been implementation on a North-South basis. We have not been told that there was a plan and that somebody backed off from it. We have heard nothing. This seems to be very much a solo run as presented here today, with a few pious sentiments that we would encourage Northern Ireland to do something similar.

The effectiveness of the approach does depend on dealing with Northern Ireland from two points of view. First, there are people who are in a position in Border counties to get their tyres north of the Border; in particular those in the haulage industry can get the tyres changed in the North, full stop, without any hassle in the first place. I did not hear any answers on that from the Department. The question was fairly and squarely put to the Department but I did not hear an answer as to who in the Department consulted who in Northern Ireland, what plans were put in place and what discussions took place on a North-South basis to tackle the problems. I presume we are not all devils here and they are not all saints up there and there is dumping of tyres and environmental impacts in Northern Ireland as there are here. I would like a clear indication of precisely what was done on a North-South basis to attempt to get an agreed outcome.

The second point is that this is a fairly elaborate scheme which almost inevitably displaces trade north of the Border if it is implemented at the moment. I did not hear anybody here explaining who did an economic study on this, who decided what the effect would be and what countermeasures there would be to stop trade moving from the South to the North, both in terms of the ordinary consumer and in particular commercial vehicles.

This must be faced up to. The regulatory system proposed is very elaborate. We are entitled to clarification on the likely implications of it for the retail trade in the South and on the displacement of trade South-North and, in the event of significant displacement South-North, how the aims of these regulations will be met if retailers and producers in Northern Ireland are not in the scheme, but no explanation has been tendered. We are hearing nothing on that front. If this regulatory system is to make sense it, it must confront those problems.

I note that under regulations 38 and 39 farmers will be required to register if they want to place tyres over the polythene covers on silage pits. Why is this being imposed on farmers? Why are farmers who want to keep silage pits anchored with 30 or 40 tyres being required to register as the proprietors of 30 or 40 used tyres? This seems to me to be slightly crazy. There are other areas where tyres are used, namely, boat yards. I know this because I have a house on the Shannon. Are boat yard proprietors to be required to register as the proprietors of 30 or 40 tyres, which are often used to turn over boats safely? They are also used on informal jetties as protections for boats and so on. Is this area to be covered by the regulations?

Dr. Cotter dealt briefly with the issue of the disposal of tyres through their use as fuel. I would like clarification on the disposal strategy in Ireland for used tyres. For example, are they to be exported, granulated in Ireland or burned in Ireland? I note that large sums of money are to be paid to Repak to recycle tyres. Perhaps one of the Repak witnesses will tell us how it proposes to do that. If it makes sense to put a percentage of shredded tyres into the manufacture of cement, we need to be told about it. Dr. Cotter has helpfully told us this would be subject to licensing, testing and monitoring. Can the witnesses tell us if this is an aim, or are tyres to be exported?

I would like some clarification on the situation pertaining to Northern Ireland, the displacement effect and if we are seriously going to require farmers to register the use of tyres in the above-mentioned circumstances. I note also that it is proposed to apply a maximum number of tyres per square meter for use on a silage pit floor. This is very detailed regulation. I am scared that this system will not work such that in three years' time we will have other witnesses before this committee or its successor saying that it did not work and that fly-tipping is still going on up in the Dublin mountains.

Could the local authorities operate depots where they would receive and make payments for tyres brought in? Has consideration be given to the operation of depots and payment for tyres brought in, on the same basis as a deposit was previously paid on bottles?