Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank my colleague as I have to participate in a radio programme after this. I believe Deputy Paul Murphy is due on "The Late Debate" with me.

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. It may be is a sign of the maturity of this House that we can discuss matters in an open and frank way. We can see how the changes in the dynamic of the Dáil allow an opportunity for people to recognise and respect viewpoints on all sides of the House.

Hopefully, based on the discourse we have had here over the last week, we have found a solution that moves us from this initial impasse. Sometimes issues get out of hand for all the wrong reasons and sometimes we do not discuss the issues in the context in which they need to be addressed.

It would be wrong to discuss this pay-by-weight scheme for the disposal of waste without addressing the overall context in terms of the management of waste. Some of the difficulties we are facing now can be traced back to policy decisions taken in the past. Notwithstanding that, it is very clear that the intended approach from this particular initiative has not really happened and is not going to happen. Certain elements of the waste sector within the contracting side are in a position where they are finding it difficult to make a profit as a consequence of decisions they made some time in the past to expose themselves to losses in an effort to gain market share. In my view, a number of companies have used this particular policy change, which has its genesis in the better management of waste, to remedy this. It might be a laudable policy under normal circumstances, but unfortunately at the time of its coming into play that policy decision has the potential to be abused by a number of contractors for their own ends. That has put the appropriate management of waste somewhat at a disadvantage. The principle of pay-by-weight does, in some instances, help to change consumer behaviour. It helps improve the level of recycling, it helps to reduce the overall production of waste and hopefully it gets some people into the mindset of eliminating waste in the first instance. When I say that, I do not mean eliminating waste from the waste cycle, which some have sought to do through fly-tipping.

The cooling-off period now in existence and the sense of security created by giving people the security of knowing there will be no increases for 12 months is useful and helpful. I compliment my colleague, Deputy Barry Cowen, for his approach in developing that point, along with others in the House who have fought that case over the last few days. As my colleague has said, there is an opportunity to deal with the issues over the next 12 months. It would not be right for any of us in this House to abuse that period of time to treat this issue as something that has been kicked down the road for 12 months and that we can come back at in 12 months.

We all have an opportunity now to come forward with ideas and there needs to be a root-and-branch review of our whole waste management system. Deputy Cowen has talked about looking at an appropriate structure in which that can be done, whether through a regulator or whatever. There has been a court judgment about the idea of certain areas being hived off and put out to tender, but we have to question whether it is good practice for three bin lorries to be chasing each other in and out of every estate. While I recognise that ensures competition, it may not ultimately give the best value for money to the consumer and may not be the best way to approach our waste business. Maybe issues like that can be discussed and addressed with all sides over the next 12 months. I know some in this House have the view that the only way to deal with the issue of waste is by giving it back to local authorities. That worked and did not work in various instances. Let us look at it if people on one side of the House or other have a view on it, but let us have an open and frank debate about it.

I speak with some experience, because the county I represent has been paying by weight for the past four years. Clean Ireland, which provides most of the service there, is one of the leaders in terms of developing technology and reducing costs, notwithstanding the geographic spread of the county. It has been delivering good value for money and can compete very effectively against those who do not participate in the pay-by-weight initiative. There are lessons to be learned from some of the industry and hopefully we can use them to try to solve this problem.

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