Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

That is one question. It extends to another one, and it is close to my home. On my doorstep there is a site belonging to Thorntons Recycling, which has the contract for all the brown bins in all the hospitals, colleges and McDonalds branches in the greater Dublin area. A large amount of brown bin content is going to that site, which is no more than a quarter of a kilometre away from one of the most densely populated working-class areas in Dublin. Thorntons Recycling processes all of the rotten, smelly food in that plant. It bales it and brings it to a site in County Meath. It has been a bone of contention for the residents of Ballyfermot for a long time and probably once a week, I have to email the EPA to complain about the smells, either on my behalf or on behalf of other residents. It depends on which way the wind blows. Fair play to the EPA it always responds to me quickly to say it is sending out an inspector, but by the time an inspector arrives the smell is usually gone. The inspectors seldom find odours. There was a reference earlier to a prosecution of Covanta. Thorntons Recycling has been prosecuted on several occasions but the maximum fine that can be imposed on the company is €3,000, which is like lunch money for a company that is making so much profit. Does Mr. Collins, as a representative of the Department, think there is a weakness in the legislation both in the Minister not having oversight and the lack of penalties for companies that breach the parameters set down by the EPA?