Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

It is very important that this issue is raised because it is not acceptable to any Deputy.

I commend the Green Party on putting forward sensible solutions to the crisis that exists. I challenge the Minister on his record in dealing with this matter. He needs to wake up and deal with it in a progressive, environmentally sound and healthy way. He conned the taxpayers regarding the bin tax issue and is now conning them with the so-called waste management strategy. The vast majority of people are way ahead of the Minister regarding recycling. He is guilty of lengthy delays in rolling out planned infrastructure and there are continual increases in waste generation due to the growing population and nature of the economy.

Let me state what is happening in Fairview Park following the construction of the Dublin Port tunnel. Yesterday at 10.25 a.m. I entered the tunnel site at Fairview following calls from local residents and saw at first hand the dumping of contaminated clay. I saw clay littered with metal, plastic, blood-soiled sheets and syringes. This is not the clean topsoil that was promised. I challenge the Minister on the waste crisis and the associated serious health and safety issues. What will we do about Fairview Park? What kind of clay and waste is the Minister sending down to Mountmellick? These are serious questions. The Minister needs to wake up regarding the tunnel waste.

As of today, there are 261 damaged homes in the Marino, Fairview, Drumcondra and Santry areas, although residents were told before the construction of Dublin Port tunnel that this would never happen. I have received 117 complaints from residents outside the 30 m zone. The disgraceful damage to people's homes is a shame and I urge immediate action and compensation for all the affected families on the north side of Dublin.

I deplore the Government's failure to introduce regulations under the Waste Management Act 1996 to give effect to the producer responsibility obligations to promote the placing on the market of reusable, recyclable and biodegradable products. I compliment the civic-mindedness of citizens who are already recycling. I challenge the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the hypocrisy of the Government and I challenge the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform over the fact that incineration costs are significantly higher than the costs estimated by the Government. Does the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform support the Government's policy or is the rich southside boy allowed, once again, to throw his toys out of the pram and get away with his hypocrisy on incineration? I challenge all members of the Cabinet in this regard.

I support the motion, which sets out a sensible plan and way forward while at the same time respecting and protecting the environment and, above all, the health of our citizens. I urge all Deputies to support it.

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