29/05/2003
Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.
Solutions, Not Auction Politics Required - Minister Cullen
"Sadly the opposition is not prepared to provide any leadership, any solutions or anything meaningful on waste management", Minister Martin Cullen said today (29 May).
The Minister said: "Auction politics has led to the current waste crises we face and sadly we have seen more of the same today. That is not my kind of politics. Those who think that waste management is only about soft options are wrong and are seriously misleading the people. A balanced integrated approach, as is the foundation of my policy is the way forward".
He was speaking following the second stage debate in Dáil Eireann on the Protection of the Environment Bill.
"There is a waste crisis in Ireland. To ignore this in the hope that in will somehow disappear will have disastrous affects environmentally and economically.
"So, as we embark on our consideration of this Bill, there is a choice to be made about how we deal with it. There is the constructive and responsible route or there is the option that is concerned with short-term political capital".
The Minister continued: "Seeking short-term political advantage, some opposition parties purported to oppose household waste charges, citing various, but spurious, justifications.
"The position is very simple. The polluter pays principle underpins EU environmental policy and legislation, and must be applied by Member States. Specifically, EU waste legislation requires that households, as well as other waste producers, pay for the costs of disposing of their waste.
"It is simply not acceptable that people who refuse to pay for their waste service should have the luxury of having their waste collected. Where people cannot afford the service, local authorities have waiver schemes in place.
"Therefore, people who refuse to pay are doing so simply on the basis of a misguided belief that their law-abiding neighbours should pay for them also. This is not acceptable to me or to those who pay their charges."
Minister Cullen brought forward a number of amendments to his Bill, including a scheme which will see recycling facilities in all new housing and commercial developments.
"I intend to include an amendment in the Bill which will make it mandatory to take account of the need for appropriate facilities for the handling of waste and recyclables in all new housing and commercial developments in future.
"In addition, I am including penalty provisions for businesses that fail to make timely payments to the Revenue Commissioners in respect of the hugely successful plastic bag levy", Minister Cullen concluded.