Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

It is Government policy that people pay by weight. It varies in Dublin, for example, in Fingal one pays with a tag, whereas in the city council area there is an annual charge. If there was a great system and a public acceptance of the need to pay, then paying with a coloured bag or by tag would be the way to do it. However, when there is no acceptance, the wheelie bin and the city council system of the two sizes of wheelie bin represents that principle to a degree, but in the future when there is wider acceptance that people must pay, Government policy is that they will pay by weight. I apologise for running over time and thank the Senators for their comments today.

Sitting suspended at 1.40 p.m. and resumed at 3 p.m.