Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)

I give that example because it makes the point. Are we waiting for someone else to do everything for us when we have the means to do it ourselves? There must be co-responsibility. I will provide financial resources for recycling. Within two or three weeks, the money from the levy, which is a substantial amount, will all be given to the local authorities. It will help to move forward the recycling plan of each of them.

Environmental law is being implemented. It was said during the debate that we followed the European route. That is not true. We participate in the making of European laws and directives and much of our legislation, like the original EPA directive on the IPC licensing laws, is ahead of the EU directives. We did not wait for the European Union to dictate, it followed us.

While the Bill is detailed and complicated, it is a huge step forward in establishing the framework we need to deliver on what we must do about waste. If councillors and Senators accept what I am doing on the fundamental point that has caused most publicity, copper-fastening the plans already in place, I will make sure they cannot be overturned.

Some Deputies who sit on councils have created space for themselves by saying they will challenge the original law in the High Court. What effect will that have? We will have to wait for another three years for a decision as the situation gets worse. I will not have that. Plans have been passed and this Bill will copper-fasten their legal basis. I will ensure charges are commensurate with what people should pay but there is not a single local authority coming anywhere near the reality.

While we must be fair and make the investment, we have a collective responsibility. There are no soft options, it is not someone else's responsibility but ours. That is the basis on which I will deal with waste. No councillor need have any fear because I will deliver on the empowerment of local government in the next few years.

Question put.