David Cullinane (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.”.”.

We had lengthy debates on all of these issues on Committee Stage so I do not intend to have a lengthy debate on Report Stage because we have made the arguments. We resubmitted many of our amendments because we want to restate our position. We may not divide on them but we will certainly press them.

I remind the Minister that these two amendments seek to ensure that a person or a company seeking a waste collection licence has proven that they have or will have a contract with a licensed operator who will safely dispose of the waste. This would be one way of tackling the problem of illegal dumping, which is a huge problem across the State. There is a big problem with illegal waste collectors also, some of whom are operating with impunity. Where we can do so we should tighten up the law. Where we can do so we should strengthen the provisions of this Bill. Notwithstanding our opposition to the Bill for other reasons we will get to later, and we will have a discussion on those in regard to water charges, there are many provisions of the Bill we do support in terms of improving our waste management laws. That was the purpose of tabling these two amendments. We hope the Minister is in a position to accept them in the same way she was for the first amendment.