Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I know all about the development plans and the arguments pursued on their variations. I have spent years on local authorities, but the Senator suggests I know nothing about them. If he can find a county which adopted waste management charges with the unanimity and delight of all its members, he will have found a county in Tír na n-Óg. I have not come across a single county where unanimity has been achieved.

I could talk forever about this matter, but the Leas-Cathaoirleach wishes me to stop. I commend the Bill to the House, but I ask the Minister to view its measures as temporary, to be used as a threat against councillors, and that they be removed when local authorities reach a 50% or 60% level of recycling, at which point power will be taken back from the manager. I am not for managers – although individually they are good and nice people – I am for citizens and for elected representatives taking responsibility. However, this is not happening and those who pretend it is are wrong.

I have read various local newspapers when local authority estimates are being introduced to ascertain who is voting for what, only to find that there are divisions between and within parties and that the people heralded as heroes and heroines are those who opposed any increases in charges. These people are now writing manifestos for the local elections which will declare that they were against charges.

I blame successive Governments for not dealing with this matter, but, until recycling gains ground, this should be seen as a temporary measure. The granting of power to the people, through their elected representatives, is proper if they know all the facts and are engaged to deal with it. I will be watching and listening to Senator Bannon with great delight.