Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We are living in changing times with regard to the climate and the patterns of behaviour of various species. It is becoming increasingly difficult to define exactly the behavioural patterns of certain species. This year is an outlier because of the snow and the arrested growth in nature. Growth and nesting periods deviate radically from year to year. Fly-tipping is a national disaster. Anyone who lives in the countryside will agree that it has become radically polluted in recent times. This is not good for tourism or the ecosystem. The causes of fly-tipping include bin charges, the cost of recycling and our inability to provide for bottles to be returned in exchange for 10 cent a bottle. Reducing the functional habitat of animals is probably not one of the raft of positive actions could be taken to reduce the level of fly-tipping.