Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

I have no doubt there will be many items on the social partnership agenda, of which this will be one. I cannot pre-empt what will happen there.

We are working within the result of a lobbying effort to the European Commission. That has given us the date in question, and the Deputy will acknowledge there is not much room for movement on that basis. There is a dynamic which should be of assistance in ensuring work is carried out, which is the change in the construction industry. The Deputy knows that in rural areas, the farm waste management scheme has been very important to the number of bags of cement being sold, for example, up and down the country. I expect many builders are appreciating the work being carried out and that whatever difficulties there would be in complying with the 31 December deadline will, somewhat paradoxically, be helped by the fact that work will now be available that might have been difficult to engage builders on previously.

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