Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I did not realise that. That had not been communicated to me. Maybe we could work out arrangements for situations like this in the future. I appreciate that, a Cheann Comhairle.

I raise with the Taoiseach the anger, anxiety and great surprise at how the statutory instrument introduced by former Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, last January has created chaos and mayhem within the bin industry and caused anger and anxiety among householders across the country. There have been claims and counter-claims but essentially bills in quite a number of instances have gone through the roof. In many ways, it highlights the complete lack of transparency in relation to bin charges generally. Quite a number of companies are not transparent at all in terms of their charging regime. The standard charges were increased under the guise of the introduction of the pay-by-weight system. Deputy Kelly signed in the charges on the basis that 87% of people would have their bills reduced but he indicated that the Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy Coveney, were caught hopping.

I do not know whether the former Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, discussed this with the Taoiseach last January when he signed the instrument or whether there was a discussion on it in the Cabinet because I cannot reconcile his perspective on this at that time with the subsequent view that the Government was caught on the hop by the companies and did not follow through sufficiently.

The Minister, Deputy Coveney, has brought forward a range of proposals. Members of the House and spokespersons, including Deputy Cowen, asked the Minister to engage with the companies with a view to bringing about a resolution to this debacle. Essentially, there has been a deferral of the charges regime for 12 months. I seek clarity from the Taoiseach on that. Can he guarantee that householders will not have increased bills over the next 12 months? Also, during the next 12 months, will the Taoiseach take the opportunity to initiate a comprehensive review of the current waste collection, management and recycling system and industry? There is a complete absence of transparency and there is no regulator. Will the Taoiseach consider the appointment of a regulator? There is also a lack of competition in some parts of the country while an increasing amount of illegal dumping is occurring. The next number of months should be used as an opportunity to conduct a comprehensive review of this sector, so I ask the Taoiseach to initiate such a review.

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