Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

When I looked at this, I tried to understand why we would be lowering a fine for breaches of waste collection legislation. Who is the Minister targeting? I assume he is not talking about large waste management companies with large contracts. I had the impression on reading it that he might be directing it at smaller-scale clothes collectors and the preponderance of unofficial collecting of waste. I am at a loss as to why we would lower a fine from €5,000 to €3,000. If it is directed at companies, I would have thought something like €3,000 would not be that much of a disincentive. This question relates to amendment No. 11.

Amendment No. 12 concerns a fixed penalty of €500 for people suspected of not having a waste collection permit. Will the Minister differentiate between the two amendments and give us an idea of the kind of groups he is targeting?

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