Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

As a general comment, the programme for Government is focussed centrally on restoring good health to our public finances. The legacy that has been inherited is pretty grim. This requires some serious decision making. Fundamental to this is the confidence of our people and to give them hope that good Government can deliver opportunities for jobs and careers and satisfying and challenging work. This is part of the reason the Government will bring forward a specific jobs budget programme in its first 100 days in office and which is being worked on by the Minister with responsibility for jobs and enterprise as part of that stimulus for the local and indigenous economy.

Local authorities have a legal remit to draft plans and annual budgets. Many local authorities have made decisions in respect of privatising refuse, waste collection services or whatever, some of which have been in place for many years. Change always results in difficulties and while I can sympathise with any worker in this regard, local authorities have a remit to make decisions in respect of their budgets and how they provide their services. In his previous existence, the Ceann Comhairle was aware of the issue to which Deputy Boyd Barrett referred. There are well tried mechanisms for sorting out long-running disputes. These things often require a measure of common sense and I hope that the actors in this dispute can avail of the opportunities presented to arrive at a solution that will deal with the problem raised by the Deputy.

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