Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Tánaiste said this policy is intended to be good value. It is certainly not good value if one’s annual bill goes from €360 to €611 or from €420 to €770. It is certainly not good value if the standing charge is increased. The Tánaiste claimed there is still time to address this matter. However, most households have to pay that charge before their bins will be collected. There is two weeks to deal with this.

The Tánaiste said it was not the spirit of the legislation. It is a consequence, however, of badly drafted legislation which has a lacuna and which has given an opening to companies to profit from this policy. While the policy is a welcome change in attitude, it will crucify households, pensioners, disabled people and families across the country.

Families will be looking to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government’s meeting with the companies for results. If he does not get results, what will he do? Will he suspend the introduction of this measure until these companies see sense or will the Government go along with companies profiteering from families using the pay-by-weight system? We may have a new Government but the manner in which this pay-by-weight system is being introduced is the same incompetence that dragged us through Irish Water.

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