Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)

The solution to our problem is not to export our waste, as we now do. We must put incentives in place to encourage facilities such as the recycling of plastics into new plastic products, rather than having to separate materials and then export them because there is no incentive from the Government to enable private enterprise or local authorities to set up such facilities so that people can reuse the materials recycled in the various areas.

The Minister asked in his speech where we should look now and pointed out that instead of trawling around the far side of the world, it made sense to look at what works. Of course it makes sense to look at what works. It is the Minister's duty to lead the way in supporting local authorities and people who are enthusiastically making an effort in this regard.

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