Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like many other speakers, I rise mainly to pay tribute to Senator Ó Clochartaigh. I had a chance last night to talk to him briefly, to celebrate his time here and to discover that when I used to go to the Gaeltacht, I used to stay in a house that is located next door, I think, to his mother-in-law's home. That was how small Ireland was a long time ago, when I was in the Gaeltacht in Carraroe, and I had a great time there. When I chaired the debates on Údarás na Gaeltachta and the statements on the Irish language, enough of the Irish came back to me that I managed to convince a few people that I am not too bad an Irish speaker when I put my mind to it. I pay tribute to Senator Ó Clochartaigh. He has always been a man of great integrity and great intellect. He spoke on so many different topics - regardless of the content - very fluently in Irish and in English. He also spoke so well and so knowledgeably. Rarely did I find myself disagreeing with him on most things he said. I do not know whether that says more about me or him.I found his style of speaking and delivery very impressive. It has already been said TG4's gain is our loss. I wish the Senator and his family well in the future.

Bearing in mind the weather conditions, we should pay tribute to all of those in the local authorities and the emergency services who will have to go out to work and for the great work they have done so far. The worst of the weather is still to come. I thank the Leader for the pragmatic approach he is taking to the Order of Business to allow people to go home earlier in order that they will not have to travel in the worst of the weather. It is the right decision. I do not believe we can ask everybody else to stay at home and then proceed to continue working in the Houses, perhaps putting staff and Members at risk when travelling.

A report was issued this morning by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, and his Department on the price monitoring of waste collection. We have not discussed the matter in the House for some time, but I see that quite a lot of companies are still providing a service at a flat rate. I believe that when Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council introduced a pay-by-weight system in 2005, it was the result of an EU directive on the polluter pays principle. The more a person dumps, the more he or she pays and the less he or she dumps, the less he or she pays. It seems, however, that many waste companies are still providing services at a flat rate. This may suit some people who generate lots of waste, but it is completely at variance with what we are supposed to be doing to encourage recycling and people to produce less waste. I, therefore, call on the Leader to schedule a debate with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment on the issues of waste charging and recycling.