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DAIL DEBATE
Private Members Domestic Refuse Charges DÁIL ÉIREANN
Mr. Kelleher: It is nice to see the Labour Party decided not to behave like a spoilt brat when the writs were moved today with its threat of opposition and disruption to the business of the Dáil. It is nice to see Labour Party Deputies tabling a motion that ultimately gives us the opportunity to highlight all the positive aspects to waste management that have occurred in recent years. Mr. Sherlock: Does the Deputy know what is happening in the city of Cork ? Has he been in the city? Mr. Kelleher: I have listened to a great deal of nonsense from that side of the House with regard to waste management. The vast majority of people in Cork city pay their service charges. For years Members opposite opposed every opportunity to bring forward an equitable system. It took Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and some other members of Cork Corporation to make bold decisions with regard to the introduction of a liberal waiver system. The figures show that one third of all waivers nationally were delivered by Cork City Council, so there is an opportunity for local authorities to be flexible in their approach to refuse charges. The people of Cork have responded tremendously to the system introduced. A handful of people are actively discouraging others from co-operating with the system passed by Cork City Council. Many people are recycling their waste, paying their service charges and are quite willing to do so. However, a handful of people are intent on disruption and seeking to bring about what must be considered to be a state of civil disobedience in opposing this measure. I do not mind someone highlighting his or her opinions in a chamber, but it is not acceptable to encourage people to dump rubbish on the public highways of Cork city. I would like councillors to condemn this publicly. On the question of waste management, there is no doubt that in recent years people have responded. We could not have continued as we were. Cork City Council has taken the lead in this regard and been proactive in ensuring there are proper waste management facilities, bring centres and civic amenities. However, we have a long way to go and I accept that. In recent years, though, tremendous steps have been taken nationally, as well. In 1999 9% of all municipal waste was recycled. The figure is now almost 30% and I am sure that when the figures are published for this year, after the introduction of this system, there will be a dramatic increase in recyclable waste usage in------- Mr. Sherlock: How come people from Cork city come to north Cork to dispose of their waste? Mr. Kelleher: That is Deputy Sherlock's problem, not in my backyard, NIMBY. He has been saying that all his life. However, there is the greater good to be considered as well. Perhaps he should start acting in that system as well. On bring sites, I acknowledge great advances have been made. However, we need to be proactive in ensuring that the bring sites are monitored and cleaned up on a regular basis. That is one area in which major advances must be made. In my constituency there was a case recently where the bring sites were not emptied over the Christmas period. People who had brought their bottles, cardboard, plastics and papers with the best intentions, were left with no choice but to take them home again over the Christmas period. That is an area in which we will have to move to ensure that there is a, more than adequate, supply of bring sites and always more space to cater for the volume of recyclable waste. In general, this motion highlights the hypocrisy of the Labour Party as regards waste management and trying to bring about a fair and equitable system. If Labour Deputies were responsible they would visit the city council in Cork where there is a generous waiver system in place. A person in receipt of an old age pension does not pay the charge. However, we have ensured that those who can afford to pay will do so and those who cannot will not. That is a very equitable system. The Labour Party should actively encourage waste management charges for those who can afford to pay, so that we can assist those who cannot pay. By its continued opposition down through the years, it has forced many civic minded people to dig deep into their pockets. |