Dan Boyle (Green Party)

The debate should focus on the issues to which I refer. If Members took the time to read the ESRI report, they would discover that it refers to rates of increase in the level of waste which did not occur at the height of the Celtic tiger era. It also refers to the fact that recycling rates will be frozen and not increased in the years to come. It is extremely badly put together and deserves to be scrutinised and the subject of argument. This House would be a good forum in which to have a debate on it.

On the questions raised by Senator Ross, again, there is widespread concern regarding the fact that such decisions have been made. It is not merely the short-term effect of such decisions or their effect on the general public or those working in the public sector whose wages have been cut which is a cause of concern. The underlying problem relates to the long-term effect. The existence of a bonus culture and the inclusion of such bonuses in the assessment of future pension entitlements lie at the heart of the reason there are problems in this area. There is a need for a real debate and honesty in this matter to ensure the short-term cuts necessary to ensure public sector costs and those relating to the economy are brought into line are not affected by people's personal needs or considerations relating to their long-term future.