Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

Over the past four or five months, oil distribution companies in the west have been taken through the courts by the Competition Authority with regard to price fixing. Thankfully, they have been dealt with appropriately but it appears now that that idea is being taken up in the waste collection area. Allegations were made against five refuse collection companies in the west and it is regrettable that the Competition Authority had to raid premises to get the facts. Those companies had agreed to divvy up the business among themselves in one county in the west, denying competition within the service. It would be unfortunate if the allegations that the local authority has given its blessing to that activity were correct. In the case of County Galway, one private company, Greenstar, having taken over a whole facility in County Galway is now denying individuals the right to use that facility and will only allow registered waste contractors access thereto. Indeed, most people from County Galway who have to dispose of waste privately must go to Athlone and in terms of the journey from Clifden to Athlone, we might as well go from Athlone to Dublin with it. Senator Leyden is correct in calling for a debate on waste management because it is urgently needed. The Senator spoke about Government policy on waste management but it does not have such a policy.