Paul Bradford (Fine Gael)

I am disappointed the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Cullen, is unavailable to remain in the House for the full debate because I want to ask him why he is introducing the section of the Bill which relates to waste management charges. As of today, almost every local authority has passed its own estimate for the financial year and has adopted a waste management plan.

I take a great interest in waste management. I have managed to obtain the star prize in Cork because the county's landfill site will be situated in my parish. It concerns me that, during the term of office of the previous Minister, there was a national waste management strategy in place, but now each different local authority appears to be adopting its own different plan. If Cork County Council has the correct type of waste management plan, which involves the development of a materials recovery facility to reduce and recycle some of the waste with a landfill site at the end of the system, surely the different systems in Waterford – in conjunction with south Tipperary – or in Kerry is incorrect.

While I am in favour of power to the local authorities there should be a single national strategy and system for waste management. I do not believe that councillors are unwilling to bite the bullet; the problem is that they are biting different bullets in different authorities. If what we are doing in County Cork is so right, why is it not being done the same way in Kerry, Clare and Donegal? I am disappointed the Minister is not taking a tighter grip on the situation. I raised the matter with him during my term in the Lower House and his argument was that a process of reduction, reuse and recycling was at the core of his policy.

The previous Minister said – the current Minister has not indicated otherwise – that the possibility of incineration must be considered. However, we cannot consider incineration if we also claim to be in favour of reduction, reuse and recycling. There are many proponents of incineration, for which there is a valid scientific argument. Many European countries have incineration systems and many cities have incinerators in the middle of urban areas. However, if incineration is to work safely and effectively, huge volumes of waste are required. If one is in favour of it, one cannot promote the other method.