John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

40. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has reported on the operation of the household waste collection market; her plans to publish this report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5845/18]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister is aware that last year the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, introduced a new pricing and charging regime for waste collection. Effectively, it was to phase out flat-rate charges and encourage greater recycling. I understand that the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has since conducted a study on the waste collection market. Will the Minister give an overview of the study and assure the House that there is effective competition in that market?

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Policy responsibility for the waste sector lies with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. On 4 July 2017, a motion was passed by Dáil Éireann that called on the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to ask the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, to report on the operation of the household waste collection market. Following a formal request on 25 September from the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, the then Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, in accordance with section 10(4) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014, requested the CCPC to carry out a study on the operation of the household waste collection market. The study will assess the household waste collection market and make recommendations, as appropriate. It will assess the nature and scale of consumer and operator issues in the household waste collection market and consider if the introduction of an enhanced regulatory regime could efficiently address these issues in the short and long term. It will include the following elements: research on current issues in the waste sector, an economic assessment of the household waste collection market and an overview of waste collection in other countries. I understand this exercise is still under way and it is anticipated that the report will be finalised over the coming months. The issue of publication will be considered at that stage.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I do not mean to be disrespectful to the Minister by saying she did not tell me anything I really did not know. It is like a history lesson. I am well aware that the request came in September. In a previous reply from the Minister, Deputy Naughten, he indicated that the report from the commission would be available in early 2018. This does very little to alleviate concerns that people have about proper competition in the market. With the change in the pricing regime, there is no easy clarity for consumers as different companies charge different rates. It might be so much per kilo, a flat rate and so much per kilo or a flat rate with top-ups and so forth. There is no transparent pricing regime operated by all companies. It is the reason we are asking for this to be done in a timely fashion. This debate started before the summer of last year. The request to the commission to conduct the study only came about in September but it should be fast-tracked and made available as quickly as possible.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission is the statutory independent body responsible for the enforcement of domestic and European Union competition law in the State. Section 9(5) of the Competition and Consumer Protection Act provides that the CCPC is independent in the performance of its functions. As Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, I have no direct function in such matters. It is doing its work.

It carried out a number of public consultations and it has conducted desk-based research. It has requested information from domestic operators, commissioned consumer research and engaged with other national competition agencies on how waste markets operate in those jurisdictions. I understand the CCPC will issue a public consultation shortly to collect information on the household waste collection market and gather the views of stakeholders. It is working very hard on the matter. I will raise the Deputy's concerns with the commission.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I would appreciate it if the Minister could relay to the commission our concerns that this should be done in a timely manner. There is no obvious competition in the market and prices are not transparent. I live in a Dublin suburb and I can see competition in providing broadband, estate agent services and energy suppliers. Nobody is knocking on my door asking me if I want to change my waste collection company. It is simply not happening. The anecdotal evidence is in abundance that there is not significant competition in this market.

Before the commission can finish its full report, I believe an interim report, particularly on the Dublin market, would be very useful at this stage.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Deputy that competition is good for business and the consumer. The authority is an independent body under my remit, and I will certainly raise his concerns with it.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We have time to take one more question if the Deputy forgoes his right to introduce it and I will allow him one supplementary question.