Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Chathaoirleach and I thank him for allowing me to join this debate. I welcome the Minister of State and I commend Senator Malcolm Byrne for this legislation. I also welcome the opportunity to support the Bill and to speak on it. It is an important piece of legislation but it is also an important conversation that we need to have in a wider context. Anyone watching this debate in anticipation of the Minister of State’s response should look at what we are trying to achieve through this legislation.

Senator Fitzpatrick spoke about Irish Business Against Litter, IBAL, and the Tidy Towns movement. If we look at the quantum journey we have come by, in the first instance, the work of the volunteers of the Tidy Towns committees and, second, the role in which IBAL has challenged all of us, whether it is local authorities, civic and community groups and business groups to make all of our areas better places and to enhance the public realm, then we are in a much better place.

There is a deficit and an issue around illegal dumping, littering and the damaging of the public realm. In my own city and county of Cork there was a great outcry at the damaging of a defibrillator, and rightly so. Similarly, as we become more aware of the environment and of the need to ensure that we act as stewards of it, then every assistance that we can bring to that must be looked at and investigated. That is why this Bill is an important move in a direction that will help to empower and assist our local authorities in the fight against litter but also against those who engage in this practice of littering our communities, towns, cities, laneway or byways. In this regard, local authorities are engaging and working in their different parks, recreation and environment staffing areas. There is an element of personal responsibility and we are bringing technology in this legislation to assist in the campaign. I use the word "campaign" deliberately because this is what it is. Our Green Schools programme has been very positive in our schools. Our Blue Flag projects, in a similar way in a European context, have also been fantastic. We are bringing here a new dimension to our campaign.

Senator Fitzpatrick in her contribution referred to the whole issue of GDPR and human rights. She has a very valid point and we must be careful with that but there is an element in which we need to ensure that we work with our local authorities to ensure that data protection is not abused. We also need to work with them to ensure we eliminate the scourge of littering and that we have a measured approach.

If we are all honest about this, the IBAL table is one we all look to, to see where we are scoring and where we rank. The Tidy Towns competition is one in which we all want to see our own area improve and, in a competitive process, perhaps emerge victorious. That is why it is important in this forum and House that we commend the volunteers and Tidy Towns committees.

This is a very important piece of legislation and is one that I hope the Government will support and that it is not just left to gather dust on a shelf. I say that with respect to all of us because this is about ensuring that we bring a new dimension to the campaign. I commend Senator Malcolm Byrne for his contribution to this debate and for this legislation. I also thank the Minister of State for being here and the work that he is doing. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Chathaoirleach.