Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail)

He is usually in good humour, even when we point out where is he wrong on particular issues. Generally, we welcome the Bill. There are 49 sections in it so I will be brief.

In Part 3 on air pollution, does that apply to people burning peat, turf and sticks in rural areas? That is what many of them depend on because of the price of fuel.

I understand the Minister's approach to providing for a 70 cent maximum for the plastic bag levy. I would not, however, agree that it should be increased from the present 22 cent. It has been a successful programme since it was introduced and has prevented plastic bag littering. In Cavan, the only plastic bags one sees now are from the North of Ireland. Legislation has been recently passed there to address the problem.

It is disappointing to see that 61% of municipal waste still goes to landfill. We should aim for 1% and anything that would help achieve this must be welcomed. I am concerned, however, that increases in charges will lead to more dumping in rural areas. More litter wardens should be employed to police illegal dumping from the money generated by the plastic bag levy.

The Minister said certain amendments were necessary to Part 5 to settle EU complaints against Ireland and that it must be urgently commenced to avoid incurring EU fines. What are those concerns? Sections 15 and 16 are standard definition sections. What are they? Section 46 repeals section 62 of the Waste Management Act 1996. What was that?

I welcome the fact that any proposed change to a placename must be put before the people by secret ballot and adopted by half of the total council membership.

Section 44 provides for an amendment to section 62(a) of the Local Government Act 1998, which allows the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to expend moneys from the local government fund on all public roads, national, regional or local, and on the provision of public transport infrastructure. I would like to see that money ring-fenced and regionalised because there is no rail infrastructure in Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal.