Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Does the Taoiseach share the view of the ESRI in its judgment that there is no underlying rationale for the policy of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on waste? A spokesman for the Minister was derogatory of the findings of the State body, the ESRI, and made the comment that it erred in fact. This is an important matter and the Taoiseach should make his views clear on it.

I am concerned by an emerging trend, where companies are proceeding to the commercial High Court looking for examinerships. The Government appointed public interest watchdogs to the boards of the banks. As the Taoiseach is aware, if an examinership is granted creditors may get five cents in the euro. This is a gamble with jobs. The problem with the trend is that small companies are being brought before the commercial High Court but trailing elements of much larger companies are coming in behind them. In many cases receiverships are being appointed to what are solvent entities, within those companies, that could trade their way out of difficulty in time. This appears to be an exercise to get examinerships appointed where jobs will be lost, creditors will not be paid and where holding companies will benefit. I do not know if the Taoiseach is aware of this or has a view on it. From an examination of a list of companies with liabilities well over €200 million, some entities can trade out of this, but if the whole lot goes into examinership, jobs could be lost. It is the right of a petitioner to take a case before the commercial High Court——

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