Seanad debates

Thursday, 16 July 2015

Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage

 

10:30 am

Photo of Trevor Ó ClochartaighTrevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 2:



In page 31, between lines 19 and 20, to insert the following:“(d) the insertion of the following subsection after subsection 3:
“(3A) That the applicant has a contract with a licensed operator for the delivery and safe disposal of collected waste.”.”.
This amendment seeks to ensure persons or companies seeking a waste collection licence have proof that they have a contract with a licensed operator who will safety dispose of the waste. The aim of the amendment is to tackle the issue of illegal dumping. During the years Sinn Féin opposed the privatisation of the waste collection regime. Privatisation has resulted in a number of rogue operators within the industry who have disposed of waste in places and at times that are not appropriate. If we are to pay companies and give them contracts to dispose of waste from Irish Water systems, etc., it is only appropriate that they be fully above board. It should be proved that there is a contract with a licensed operator and that the waste will be disposed of safely.

There are other issues concerning waste disposal that are of concern to people, including in respect of some of the treatment plants to be used. There are many fears in this regard. In my area, Carraroe in County Galway, it is feared that a proposed badly needed sewage waste facility will actually be turned into a regional waste disposal facility. We need checks and balances. We need to guarantee in the legislation that if we are to have checks and balances to ensure waste operators are acting appropriately, those collecting waste will be licensed to do so. If this is ensured, we can take appropriate action if operators act outside the remit covered by their licences regarding the manner in which they dispose of waste.

The amendment is very practical and I cannot understand why the Government would not support what we are trying to do. I cannot understand what it has against ensuring all waste disposal companies given public contracts with public funding are fully licensed. This is the case with other public procurement contracts involving many State organisations. What I propose is essential.

Owing to the nature of Irish Water as a company and given how it has been set up, there are concerns about oversight. That it is not fully State owned and not fully private is of concern, as is the fact that it is not fully open to scrutiny by the Houses of the Oireachtas. The legislation needs to address such concerns in order that we can be absolutely sure no rogue operators will be catered for in the future.

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