Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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I thank Mr. O'Leary, Mr. Neely and Mr. Murray for their presentations. The "RTÉ Investigates" programme highlighted a number of things that are happening across the State. It showed that not all cowboys wear big hats and ride horses. Some questions were raised by the witnesses about the methods used by RTÉ in Donegal. Footage showed us what is happening on the ground in the county and regardless of what language or metrics one uses to dress it up, it did not paint a pretty picture. There were mounds of waste described as being 2 m high on the Inishowen Peninsula but they looked more substantial than that on the camera. I was in that area last year. It is a lovely part of the country and what is going on there with regard to waste is criminal.

As Deputy Dooley asked, if members of staff are being threatened, which should not be happening, is there adequate follow up from the Garda? If not, why not?

Will Mr. O'Leary tell the committee how many waste licences have been revoked? Mr. Neely from Donegal County Council has said that it is moving from 14 to 19. Clearly there is a problem. I had heard of the programme but could not see it on the night it was broadcast so I watched a repeat. One of the waste facilities is beside a large river. There were problems with the licence but it was renewed again for that waste collector. A substantial amount of the activity at that site, which is right at the edge of the river, is concerning. Will Mr. Neely explain how Donegal County Council came to the conclusion that this location was okay for such a substantial waste facility, especially where the operator and owner may not have complied with all the regulations, or may not have engaged in best practice in waste handling?

I shall now turn to the EPA. I recall the national permit office being set up under Offaly County Council. With regard to Mr. Murray's brief, who goes to the county council for a permit and who goes to EPA for a licence? It would help public representatives, and others, to know that. Should the EPA administer the licensing system? I am not saying that Offaly County Council is inefficient, as it deals with the permits regularly, but is the process more convoluted when individual local authorities must get their permits through a county council? Would it be more efficient if it was handled through the EPA?

Will the witnesses also comment on whether the fines are high enough?

Offaly County Council has no role in the investigations. That was my understanding and Mr. Murray has clarified the matter. The council just hands out the permits. However, Mr. Murray also mentioned in his presentation that fit persons with technical knowledge could obtain a licence. Will he give us a definition of the requisite technical knowledge or qualifications required to carry out the activity? That is obviously important. It is also important to note, as Mr. Murray has clarified, that the problem has multiplied several times since the system was privatised. Privatisation has brought us a lot of illegal dumping and bad environmental practice, which is obviously a challenge.

I have a further question for Offaly County Council. There is talk of some county councils bringing forward by-laws to ensure each household will have a legal method of disposing of household waste. I have a Bill that has passed First Stage in the Dáil that would do this in the case of private rental accommodation. I am not saying the problem is down solely to people who live in rental accommodation, whether it is private accommodation or social or local authority housing. My question is this. Could something similar be done throughout the country to ensure all households would have legal means of disposing of their waste and having their waste collected?