Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

The country will have to meet its obligations under the landfill directives to which the Government led by the Deputy's party signed up. If we do not hit the relevant targets in 2013 and 2016, we will be obliged to pay fines to the European Commission. Ordinary people will be obliged to pay those fines through their taxes. Is that the proper way to proceed in respect of waste policy? I would like to encourage people to move towards recycling and reuse and to divert from landfill so that we will not be obliged to pay the EU fines to which I refer. In addition, under my proposals, people will have a better way of dealing with the waste management issues in their households. I am rolling out various other schemes to facilitate this. A regulatory impact assessment is being carried out in respect of household food waste regulations and the rolling out of the brown bin system.

If all of the initiatives and policies being introduced - including those relating to producer responsibility and the business community - prove successful, then less material will go to landfill and more will go to waste-to-energy facilities. We are putting an infrastructure in place to deal with all forms of waste. We are also putting measures in place in respect of diverting from landfill and providing alternatives to which people can go.

Senator Ó Domhnaill cannot expect me to support an amendment that makes landfill more attractive than recycling. The Senator's claim that the levy will be passed on to the consumer is incorrect. This provision will encourage consumers to choose the cheaper option, namely, recycling and will help us to meet our obligations on the environment under national and international law. The Senator should not expect me to come into the House and advocate breaking the law. We transposed a European directive on 31 March which was drawn up by the previous Government but never implemented. I am taking action on an issue on which my predecessor did nothing. The policies I am implementing will ensure the State does not face enormous fines arising from our failure to deal with waste management issues. I am incentivising people to go the recycling and re-use route rather than the landfill route. The Senator seems to be opposed to that. I do not accept the amendment.