Vol. 669 No. 1
1 Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to address poor water quality here, particularly poor ground water quality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43222/08]
Overall, water quality in Ireland is of good standard relative to other European countries. The recent EPA water quality report for 2004-06 found a slight improvement overall in water quality, particularly in surface waters with an increase, for example, from 69.2% to 71.4% in the length of our rivers that are unpolluted compared to the 2001-03 period. However, deterioration of ground water quality has been identified as a major cause of concern.
The Government is committed to the protection and improvement of our water resources. To reduce any threat from municipal waste water treatment, I secured a record budget of €560 million for better water services infrastructure in 2009. This is the highest ever provision and an increase of 19% over 2008. New regulatory and supervisory structures for water services have also been put in place, including provision for the licensing of municipal waste water discharges and the allocation of additional financial and staffing resources to the EPA to support its monitoring and oversight role in this area.
The nitrates action programme is one of the key measures to address the threat to our waters from agricultural run-off and the programme provides a basis for the reduction of both nitrate and phosphate losses from farms.
Groundwater is a valuable resource and I will be bringing forward regulations shortly to transpose the EU directive on the protection of groundwater against pollution and deterioration. Work on regulations establishing quality standards for surface waters is also well advanced and will be completed before the end of the year.
Measures to improve water quality are being taken forward through the mechanism of the EU water framework directive. Comprehensive catchment management plans are currently being developed on a river basin district basis. These will include detailed programmes of measures to achieve the objectives of the directive. The draft plans will be published for consultation in December and adopted by the relevant local authorities by the end of 2009.
I thank the Minister for his reply and welcome the fact there has been a slight improvement in water quality as noted by the EPA in its reports. However, I have very serious concerns about the fact that more than half of the instances of serious pollution were caused by municipal discharges. The water framework directive was introduced more than five years ago but Ireland faces potential fines of millions of euro if we are not in line with that directive by 2015.
I ask the Minister to assure the House that water quality is his number one environmental priority and that he will put the necessary resources in place to improve the standard of municipal waste water at the 21 treatment plants in the country. I further ask him to ensure we protect the quality of groundwater by targeting agricultural waste and septic tanks.
I also ask the Minister to assure consumers that their tap water is safe to drink and that there will be no more instances such as those which occurred in County Galway recently.
I can assure the Deputy that this is a priority, which is why I secured record funding of up to €560 million for water infrastructure, an increase of 19%. The Deputy is right to be concerned about the EPA findings with regard to groundwater. The main threat to groundwater is contamination from micro organisms originating in sewerage, animal manures and other organic wastes. There has also been intermittent contamination of groundwater with fecal coliforms. Such contamination appears to be relatively widespread and constitutes a risk for those using the water, particularly if it is untreated. Fecal coliform counts indicating gross contamination were recorded at 37% of the monitoring locations.
I must also point out that there is a serious problem in this country with the proliferation of septic tanks, many of which are very old. The Deputy may be aware that the European Commission earlier this year initiated proceedings against this country in the European Court of Justice, seeking a ruling that Ireland has failed to transpose the waste directive as far as domestic waste waters from septic tanks and other similar treatment systems are concerned. We are now preparing a response to that finding. The Water Services Act 2007 contains a number of very significant provisions regarding the operation of septic tanks.
What measures has the Minister taken to ensure that local authorities carry out further testing on drinking water to ensure it is safe to consume? Is there an action plan in place to ensure we reach the deadline of 2015 for compliance with the water framework directive?
Not only have I been in touch with the managers of local authorities, but the EPA, which has been given extra supervisory powers and extra resources and staff, has also been in contact with the various local authorities. The EPA is putting the authorities under a certain amount of pressure, which is only right, to step up to the plate and ensure people are getting the best quality drinking water possible. I have said repeatedly that this is not a resource issue. If, for example, lead contamination is a problem in certain areas of the country, there is a contingency fund in place to resolve that. I place the highest priority on getting acceptable levels in terms of good drinking water quality.
2 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps being taken to develop indigenous facilities, markets and outlets to recycle waste, as recommended in the Environmental Protection Agency report, State of the Environment, and in view of the fact that most recyclable waste here is exported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43226/08]
There were some 1.2 million tonnes of waste recycled in 2006, of which approximately 75% was exported. Approximately 36% of municipal waste is now recycled as compared to the national target of 35% recycling by 2013.
The Government's policy statement, Preventing and Recycling Waste — Delivering Change, identified a lack of sustainable and economically attractive markets and outlets for recyclable materials as one of the main barriers to an improved and sustainable national recycling performance. The significant cost and effort associated with the segregation, collection, sorting, pre-treatment and reprocessing of recyclable materials demands that markets be developed to realise the full resource value of all recyclable materials that are reclaimed. To address these issues I am providing funding of €13 million to implement the recommendations set out in the market development programme for waste resources 2007.
The market development programme will promote sustainable demand for recovered materials and support the achievement of economies of scale in the production of products made from recycled materials. It will also identify new applications and markets for recyclable material and secondary recycled products.
We must accept that our relative size will place some limits on the scope for a comprehensive recycling infrastructure. However, I believe the investment now being made in this programme will enable us to be somewhat more self-sufficient and will give us some degree of insulation from the types of difficulties now being experienced in the international markets for recyclates.
I thank the Minister for his reply. I tabled this question because the recent EPA report recommended steps to be taken to develop indigenous facilities, markets and outlets to recycle waste.
The Minister referred to the fact that 75% of recyclable waste is exported. Within that figure of 75%, the EPA reports that 99.3% of paper and cardboard, 99.8% of ferrous metal and 87.4% of glass materials are exported. A total of 0.4% of glass is sent abroad for recycling. As the Minister said, environmental issues are raised because material is being shipped and we do not know what happens to it. Some of it is burned. One of his own colleagues, the former MEP for Leinster——
A question, please, Deputy.
——suggested in an article that much of it is burned abroad and that there are not good environmental practices in some of the countries to which we export it. As the Minister said, there could be economic benefits if we develop our own industry.
The Minister suggested steps to be taken for developing markets but he did not actually say that he would create facilities here where waste could be recycled. The North of Ireland is much smaller but there is a glass recycling company to which we export most of our glass. There needs to be a State industry for the recycling of waste and I ask for the Minister's opinion.
Given the economies of scale, it makes sense to co-operate with our colleagues in Northern Ireland and to have a glass recycling facility on any part of the island. The Deputy is correct that we also need to develop a facility for paper and cardboard and a proposal has been made. However, we must reach an agreement with our colleagues in Northern Ireland because this was to be done on an all-island basis.
The Deputy referred to the programme overview. The €13 million which I propose to spend is for a multi-annual programme and it will be drawn down by RPS Group on behalf of the market development group. It includes research and development, commercial trials, development of technical standards and the production of various marketing and educational awareness materials. The main focus of the programme will be an organics programme. We have rolled out the brown bins and I have sent a circular to all the local authorities. Organic waste recycling is working very well and it is probably the most important aspect because in terms of complying with our landfill directive commitments, we must remove the biological component from landfill.
I will allow a brief supplementary question from Deputy Tuffy. I ask the Minister to hold the balance of his reply for that.
The €13 million the Minister plans to spend on researching the development of markets is a lot of money. I have seen reports which are just put on the shelf. If he is spending €13 million, he needs to come up with the goods. It should result in the creation of jobs and businesses. This is an opportunity to develop the environmental goods and services sector. I ask the Minister for a commitment that it will not just be some theoretical paper but will result in facilities being developed out of the expenditure of €13 million so that there will be jobs and recycling facilities at the end.
I agree with the Deputy. I liaise closely with those in the recycling industry. I will be holding another meeting shortly. I have received the report from the action group. The composting industry can employ many people and I regard it as a win-win situation. The statutory instrument on composting, which I will publish shortly, will ensure that the food waste from our restaurants and hotels is not put into landfill but rather is directed towards composting. This is beneficial from everyone's point of view, in terms of the environment and sustainable waste management.
3 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to amend electoral legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43223/08]
The rules and procedures concerning elections are a key component of our democratic system of government and the electoral law is an important part of the responsibilities of my Department. As a measure of the legislative activity this involves, the House may wish to note that five Electoral Bills have been brought before this House by my Department and enacted in the past four years.
The Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2008 has completed Committee Stage and I am considering issues arising from that prior to the taking of the Remaining Stages in the House. The Bill implements the recommendations in the report of the Constituency Commission published in October 2007. It amends the law relating to the constituency revision process and it provides for alternative procedures for the nomination of non-party candidates at European and local elections. I look forward to the early enactment of the Bill in view of the important issues it addresses.
I intend to bring forward proposals in the near future for legislative change to allow for the introduction of spending limits at local elections. It is my intention to have the limits in place for the local elections to be held in 2009. The programme for Government contains a commitment to examine spending limits at local elections as part of the Green Paper on local government. Submissions made in the course of preparing the Green Paper, published in April 2008, were generally supportive of some kind of expenditure limit.
On 8 January 2008, I announced that I had established two committees to review local electoral areas. When publishing the reports on 17 June 2008, I announced that, consistent with long-established practice, I was accepting the recommendations contained in them. I am in the process of making the necessary statutory instruments to give effect to the recommendations. I have made 26 of the required 37 orders and the remainder will be finalised as soon as possible. The local electoral areas established by these orders will apply at the 2009 local elections.
Does the Minister intend to amend electoral legislation to allow civil servants to join political parties? The sinister development by the Green Party to target civil servants by inviting them to join its so-called supporters list is totally unacceptable. If Opposition parties tried to recruit civil servants, the Green Party would be first to cry foul. Does the Minister consider his party's attempt to recruit civil servants breaches any electoral legislation as set out by his Department or the Standards in Public Office Act 2001?
I sense a conflict between his ministerial position and his own party targeting civil servants to make donations to the Green Party in return for Green Party literature and communications. This must be considered as nothing but political activity. This is very serious. The Minister is attempting to politicise the public service, and, in my opinion, it is crossing a very thin line.
May I interrupt the Deputy's speech as this is Question Time?
I am asking questions.
If the Deputy will take his seat I will call the Minister.
I have a number of questions for which I want clear answers from the Minister.
Hear, hear.
If the Minister would allow me to speak — I hope there will be time to call the Deputy again — I wish to make two points. The Minister is not responsible in the House for the Green Party and neither can the Minister be asked to interpret legislation as that will be a matter for the courts under the separation of powers. I call the Minister.
I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for that clarification. The Deputy said he had a number of questions but essentially he only had one and that was whether I was going to introduce legislation to allow civil servants to participate in the political process. The answer to that question is a firm "No".
The Deputy has made a big play and he has completely misconstrued it, probably deliberately so. This is an attempt to score political points——
It is in the public arena.
It is not until such time as the Deputy chooses to put it into the public arena and wilfully misinterpret something. I do not believe that civil servants — who, by the way, do such an outstanding job — should be engaged in political activity in any shape or form. It is as simple as that.
I want to quote the application to become a Green Party supporter.
The Deputy may not quote during questions.
"Money raised through this list will go towards party development and election campaigns."
The Deputy is not allowed quote during Question Time.
What else is a supporter other than an active party member helping towards the election of party members? This is factual information. The Minister has publicly and blatantly invited impartial civil servants to become members of a political party——
Has the Deputy a question before I move on to the next question?
——in everything but name.
Does the Deputy have a question?
Of course I have a question.
What is it?
I think the Minister is on a very slippery slope here. This is in the public interest. The Green Party could be putting public——
Is the Deputy asking if I am on a slippery slope?
By his statements and by what he has said. The Minister would be putting public servants' jobs in danger if they were seen to be associating with political parties.
The Deputy has no question.
Fionán Sheehan had an article in the Irish Independent on 11 November on this issue.
Minister, I do not know if there is a question in this. Do you wish to respond?
I want the Minister to clarify this matter to the House. He has not done so to date.
Thank you, Deputy Bannon. I call on the Minister.
The Deputy's party has church gate collections etc., but I do not intend to go into its fund-raising activities over the years. Does the Deputy ask the person who is contributing——
Will the Minister not ask the Opposition questions?
——if they are a civil servant? The Deputy is raising matters that are ridiculous. You were right a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I did not hear a question either.
The Minister cannot fudge this issue.
4 Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the strategy he has to deal with the collapse in the international market for recycled materials; the way this demand collapse will affect recycling strategies here; the way it will affect recycling facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43224/08]
Representatives from the waste industry met with officials in my Department on 24 October 2008 to discuss industry concerns regarding the sudden drop in international demand for recycled materials. Their principal issue of concern was the need rapidly to increase the storage capacity of existing permitted and licensed facilities. Immediately following this meeting, my Department contacted each local authority, by way of circular letter, outlining the possible options to deal with licensing of additional storage and stressing the need for local authorities to give priority to any applications received.
On 31 October, I announced the establishment of an action group to examine the situation and report to me within two weeks. The action group comprises representatives of industry, local authorities, Enterprise Ireland, the executive team implementing the market development programme and my Department. I have received the report and will be implementing several actions arising from it in the coming weeks. The issue is one which affects a number of EU member states. Ireland has raised it at official level with the European Commission and I will be raising it at next week's environment Council.
The current problem highlights the importance of developing new markets and uses for recyclates. I dealt with this in an earlier priority question this afternoon. I am fully committed to achieving the highest possible levels of recycling and to the continuing development of a national network of waste recycling facilities. Since 2002, over €100 million has been allocated by my Department to local authorities to assist in the capital costs of establishing and developing such facilities.
My Department also provides an annual subvention to local authorities to assist in the operational costs associated with their recycling facilities. I have approved payment of €10 million in respect of costs incurred in the 12-month period to June of this year. A further €2 million will be paid to local authorities in respect of waste electrical and electronic equipment, WEEE, collected over the same period at local authority sites. I am also providing an additional €2 million to address the increased costs to local authorities as a result of the current market situation.
My party colleague, Senator Paudie Coffey, raised this matter in the Seanad with the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Michael Finneran. Senator Coffey is as concerned as I am over the collapse in international demand for raw recyclable materials. There is not enough adequate storage space for existing materials and it is not acceptable for processed recycled material to be stored in advance before export. I am concerned with the direction of the Government's national waste strategy in light of the collapse of the international market for recycled materials, making it meaningless and irrelevant.
Does the Deputy have a question?
In his Seanad response on the matter, the Minister of State claimed the Government was considering sending materials abroad to be burned. If that were the case, it would make a mockery of the Government's recycling policy. How does this tie in with the Minister's opinions?
I thought I had given much clarity on this issue earlier when I responded to Deputy Joanna Tuffy. I outlined exactly the percentages relating to the export of recyclates. Paper and cardboard is exported. There is a difficulty with the price received for these particular products because it has decreased due to the collapse of the market in China and elsewhere. We have examined the increasing market in India as well. As India may soon overshadow China economically, we have examined the option of it being our main export market.
This collapse has had an immediate impact on the recycling industry. Smaller recycling companies will feel the lack of cash flow much more than the larger ones, particularly if their entire business model is based on recyclates. There are also costs in storing these materials. Any lack of storage facilities with sufficient capacity and quality may lead to a deterioration of the product.
How much did the action group report cost? What were its recommendations? Does the Minister consider that the storage or burning of these materials could have a detrimental effect on householders' attitudes to recycling?
There was no cost for the report because it was compiled by my Department. The Department along with the main players in the industry went through the various options and then came up with recommendations. I hope to publish the report shortly. The environment spokespersons from the Opposition parties will be invited.
5 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has taken into consideration the concerns of people who might have medical problems if exposed solely to the new generation of energy efficient bulbs; if he has addressed concerns regarding the disposal of CFL light bulbs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43225/08]
The traditional incandescent light bulb is extremely wasteful of both energy and money. Modern compact fluorescent lamps, CFLs, use 20% of the energy and last up to ten times longer. This means the consumer saves significantly, over the long run, on both energy bills and replacement costs, while the reduced electricity usage translates into lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Ireland is one of the first countries to bring forward an energy efficiency standard for light bulbs. Similar proposals are being developed elsewhere and the European Commission has announced plans for an EU-wide initiative over the coming years. There is a widespread acceptance of the need to address the issue of energy efficient lighting, given that electricity generation is one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Ireland's energy efficiency standard will contribute to our compliance with the Kyoto Protocol and the more ambitious targets that lie beyond the protocol.
While CFLs offer the greatest savings in both energy use and cost, they are not the only option that will meet the proposed standard. In recent years, a further alternative has emerged, with the development of halogen incandescent bulbs. While these are not as efficient as CFLs, they are more efficient than the traditional incandescent and can also substitute directly for the traditional bulb in some fittings that are not suited to CFLs. They do not appear to give rise to any medical issues, and would therefore provide an alternative for anyone who finds CFLs to be unsuitable.
My Department's recent public consultation document on the proposed standard provided an opportunity for interested parties to identify issues of concern, and the responses will be taken into account in implementing the standard. The paper referred to the fact that some people have expressed concerns about CFLs on medical grounds, but noted also that halogen bulbs would seem to provide a solution in such cases.
In so far as disposal is concerned, all CFLs are covered by the WEEE directive and will therefore be accepted without charge by civic amenity sites or by any outlet that sells them.
What plans has the Minister to address the concerns among the public that the banning of traditional light bulbs could have a detrimental effect on health? What medical advice has he sought or received on this matter? CFLs contain mercury and particular care must be taken not to break them. We banned mercury thermometers and barometers some years ago. Now, the Minister is re-introducing mercury bulbs. Is the Minister aware that some energy saving light bulbs emit ultra violet radiation and could be harmful if placed too close to the skin? Is the Minister prepared to allow some degree of flexibility for those suffering from migraine, epilepsy and skin conditions? Will such people be given the option of purchasing the traditional light bulbs from assigned sources or perhaps on prescription? These issues need to be addressed.
We have examined all those issues. This is why we are giving a certain amount of flexibility so that people can avail of the halogen bulbs, which do not have the same effect. The Deputy talked about re-introducing mercury but it has been with us for quite some time. The fluorescent tube that we are familiar with for over 50 years contains mercury. Deputy Bannon referred to ultra violet exposure and medical advice. A 1993 report from Australia found that ultraviolet exposure from sitting under typical office fluorescent lights for eight continuous hours is the equivalent of just over one minute of sun exposure. These are the facts and we have had far too much hysteria. Anytime one tries to do something of value, there is opposition. This is a well thought-out proposal. We have examined the difficulties cited and have addressed them in a sensible way.
I am sure the Minister is aware that mercury poses a strong health hazard. We replaced mercury thermometers on health grounds. Are we not placing young children in danger of greater mercury exposer from these bulbs? The instructions for coping with broken CFL bulbs amount to dealing with a major incident. I question whether they are an environmental bonus or a retrograde step and another hazard for householders. What provisions are made for low income families to enable the changeover to energy efficient bulbs? These will place a major financial burden on many people.
Rather than calming the situation, Deputy Bannon is trying to hype it up.
I hype nothing.
The claims he is making are spurious. This morning he tried to make out that Fine Gael was an environmental party of some description. Given Deputy Bannon's performance, he would bring us back to the Dark Ages when it comes to environmental progress. He has no ideas at all, only a litany of negativity. Deputy Bannon should come forward with valuable solutions and should stop knocking all the time.
The Minister poses health hazards to the general public every time we get up since he took over the portfolio.
I will talk to my colleague the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources about providing for those who are in, as Deputy Bannon says, in lower socio-economic groups.
