Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I compliment Deputies Catherine Martin and Eamon Ryan on bringing forward this motion tonight. I compliment them on their opening remarks. They were very passionately spoken and heartfelt. I also congratulate the Minister on his new role in the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.

I am happy to support this motion because I sincerely believe that we are not doing enough to protect our environment. It is critical that policy proposals be fair, workable and effective and that we have buy-in from the key stakeholders if we are to succeed in enacting the sea change in attitudes and behaviours that needs to be harnessed to gain respect for our environment and our landscape. Illegal dumping has become the scourge of rural Ireland. It continues to be a blight on our beautiful drumlins across Cavan and Monaghan. Unfortunately, we see it every day on our roadsides. It is waste made up of disposable cups, plastic bottles, and other forms of waste that make up the most appalling collage of plastics and which degrade our most scenic roadways, walkways and waterways. Cleaning it up comes at a huge cost to our local authorities in terms of human resources and expense, not to mention the futile exercise of following the perpetrators through the courts only to achieve a fine that in most cases will never be paid.

It is not an exaggeration when I tell the Minister that a significant number of hours in my constituency office are taken up by very concerned and conscientious constituents who are appalled by the deplorable behaviour of others who are abusing our scenic sites in a very intentional way, dumping all sorts of illegal plastics, mattresses, furniture and general household waste which could easily be disposed of at recycling centres. These culprits know all too well that illegal dumping cannot be tolerated in scenic areas in particular and that councils have to act quickly and remove it. At our own Castle Lake in Bailieborough in County Cavan, which is real beauty spot in the county, we were scourged over the summer months by campers leaving their rubbish and waste plastic bottles behind them. We had numerous incidents in beautiful spots like Bunnoe and in quiet countryside areas where dumping continues to be a scourge for the residents and local people in the area.

In protecting our environment we need to bring forward practical solutions that incentivise waste reduction, cut down on unnecessary packaging and reduce waste. We need to start protecting and appreciating our beautiful landscape and environment. We need to act.

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