Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I never cease to be amazed by the number of people who want to show me the new technologies available in regard to conversion from waste to energy. This is an exciting time for the marketplace in terms of the opportunities and technologies, including that mentioned by the Deputy. I have no favoured outcome. I want to see us diverting from landfill into whatever process will work, be it MBT, gasification or pyrolysis, as well as enhancing our recycling in certain categories of waste. I am re-examining the packaging levy with a view to reducing the amount of packaging we have, which should in the first instance be recycled. The newspaper industry has a greater role to play in terms of the amount of material included with one's newspaper at the weekend. That industry should take responsibility for ensuring we do not have those volumes of materials which ultimately end up in landfill.

I am very open on these issues. I have no difficulty in coming to conclusions on matters, which will be adhering to the waste hierarchy and diverting away from landfill in order to ensure we have a proper national waste policy and do not have to pay fines to the European Commission. Written Answers follow Adjournment.

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