Mr. Kevin O'Donoghue:

To clarify, the PMG does not look at the franchise model. It is looking at the prices in the market to ensure there is no gouging. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, is doing a report on the operation of the waste market in Ireland. The model was examined carefully in 2011, which was the last time it was considered in terms of whether it would be introduced here. The Government has committed that it will look at it again once both of the reports are available on the future of the waste collection market here. There is no doubt that it has some attraction, but there are some serious risks and difficulties with a franchise model as well which would have to be considered. That is something that would be looked at once all the data from both sets of reports are in. The Department is open to examining anything that might help us attain the target and move it along.