Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Leader to try to arrange a debate as quickly as possible with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche, on the recycling of farm plastics, which is a major issue, particularly in the west. A recycling system initially received support from the Government and the plastics industry but the group involved in the collection of levies appears to have run out of money. Farmers paid for plastics at the time bales were made and now have piles of plastic in their yards. They are concerned they may not comply with the REPS regulations and the detrimental impact this would have. Will the Leader arrange for the Minister to come before the House to outline concrete proposals to alleviate the current problem? It would be wholly unfair to expect farmers to pay again for the destruction or recycling of plastics when they have already made a financial commitment to this end.