Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would like to make sure attention is paid to the decision of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to introduce mandatory pay-by-weight on bins. The announcement took place in the past number of days, but seems a regressive step for a Government that had to cope with the outcry about property tax, water charges and bin charges to insist that householders who are doing their best to recycle must pay by weight. It is something that should be debated. It should not just come into operation by chance.

Two years ago I suggested that we should have safety kits in all cars, and it took a long time for something to happen. I am delighted to hear the Road Safety Authority's announcement that it would do something about it and that it was looking for suggestions on what should be included in the road safety kit that all cars will need to have. Almost every country in Europe has legislation saying that every car should have safety equipment in it. Many new cars coming in from abroad have it, but we have not had it up to now. It has taken at least two years since we brought it up in the House, but at least it is going to happen. I urge the rest of the country to get behind the Road Safety Authority and give advice on what should be included.