asked the Minister for Finance if he is aware of complaints that the standard of litter collection in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, has deteriorated since March, 1973; and the plans he has to remedy the situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. - Phoenix Park Litter Collection.
31.
Very few complaints are received about the standard of litter collection in the Phoenix Park. I am satisfied that all reasonable steps are taken to remove litter as quickly as possible.
As a result of correspondence the Parliamentary Secretary and I have had he will be aware that one gentleman who uses the park everyday has had serious complaints during the past few months.
Mr. Kenny
That same gentleman has been complaining for the past seven years.
I received only one complaint from him in three-and-a-half years and I dealt with that.
Mr. Kenny
The only written complaints on record during the past five years about the standard of litter collection in the Phoenix Park have stemmed from the one source. I shall not give the name of the gentleman concerned. In May, 1968, he complained directly to the park superintendent as well as to the Dublin Regional Tourism Company that litter in the form of bottles and tin cans was being allowed accumulate in the park for weeks at a time and he complained that he seldom saw more than one man collecting litter. In October, 1969 he made similiar complaints to the then Parliamentary Secretary. On both occasions the matter was investigated and his complaints were found to be unjustified. He intimated to us that the former Parliamentary Secretary was responsible for having the litter collection extended to five days a week. That was not correct because it was the superintendent of the park who made that decision.
At my instigation.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary suggesting that the man had no right to complain?
Mr. Kenny
No. He has every right to complain but I have a right to defend the park superintendent. Anyone going to the park will realise that there is no litter visible there except on Monday morning and we do not work on Sunday nights in this democratic state.
I do not like the Parliamentary Secretary's sarcastic tone.
Let us drop the sarcasm and pass to the next question.