Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Let us not get too precious here. We have responded to the genuine concerns that we heard last week as a Government. People from all parties and none asked me to engage with the industry and ensure that no household would be ripped off as we try to move to a pay-by-weight charging structure. That is exactly what I did. Last Friday, the day after those questions were raised, we met the waste industry for at least three hours. I had a very direct discussion with them. I told them that under no circumstances would the Government allow a situation whereby households would be mandated to switch over to a new charging system that would result in dramatic increases for many households. It would not happen, and it has not happened, and people are talking in this debate as if it will happen. It will not. What is now happening is that there is an acceptance by Government that we are not prepared to make the transition on a mandatory basis to a charging structure based on pay by weight. Some companies are clearly seeking to hike up charges during the confusion and the change of structure and were pointing to the Government as requiring them to do that. I made it very clear that was not acceptable.

What we now have, therefore, is an agreement and a deal with the industry that there will be no increases in waste fees or charges for the next 12 months. During that time, for the first six months we will focus on raising awareness, education and promotion of why it is good to consider switching to pay by weight, and in the second six months of that charge freeze waste companies will be required to offer what is called a dual billing system, whereby people will be able to see what they are paying at the moment and what they would be paying if they chose to switch to a pay-by-weight model. On top of that, we have an agreement from the industry that anybody who wants to opt into pay by weight can do so, and the industry will be required to allow this. Therefore, instead of requiring households to change their behaviour and encouraging or punishing that through a mandated charging system, we are essentially encouraging them to do it of their own accord and encouraging the industry to facilitate that changeover.