Mr. Daithí Doolan:

I thank the Senator for her question, which goes to the core issues of service provision, accountability and transparency. Speaking as a city councillor, we have little or no impact on, input into or accountability from the 11 companies providing this service in Dublin. All we can do is tackle the blight of illegal dumping. That is in our remit.

It has been brought to my attention that there is no requirement on the companies to clean up any waste left behind. It has been brought to my attention by city council staff that, where a collection service is not provided to commercial properties, then it is up to the city council to provide that service and meet that demand. We are literally picking up the rubbish for other people to make profit on the backs of people in Dublin.

What we are asking for is not significant. We just want some connection with and oversight, and control, of the service provided in Dublin.

If there was a comprehensive service being provided that was accountable to the customer and the local authority, there would be no need for me or anyone else to be here. Since they are not accountable to us and we do not have any impact or oversight that is the reason we are bringing the campaign to Leinster House today, to give us the power to do that. If they were meeting the demands of the city and were democratically accountable to local authorities, there would be no need for us to be here. The issues are that the area is fragmented, uncontrolled and unaccountable and we are left picking up the pieces, particularly when it comes to illegal dumping.