Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Members for their contributions this evening. I look forward to dealing with the specific points raised on Committee and Report Stages. Reports in the newspapers stating that households could be liable to pay a fine of €3,000 are incorrect.It is not the household but the company that is involved in the waste management. It is important this message gets out so that households do not get the incorrect idea that a fine of €3,000 can be imposed on them.

Householders are not compelled to be customers of waste management companies but must be in a position to satisfy, if requested, an environmental enforcement officer as to how they are dealing with their household waste. Senator Landy and I have listened to debates in county councils about people who are paying for their waste collection, notice that their neighbours never put out bins and wonder what they are doing. This has been an issue for a long time, and the legislation will address it. I agree with the Senator that everybody must pay a little. When schools educate our children about how to be clean, tidy and deal with litter, they should also educate them about how to pay their taxes. Ireland has a very good society and everybody pays for the privilege of living in a particular area. It is very important that children are taught in school that they pay their taxes to the State for good public services.