I presume there will be a Minister present for this debate. I should like to make a few comments on this Bill which I welcome. There is no doubt that we need to make stringent efforts to conserve our environment right across the country. The only doubt I have is in regard to whether this is going to be another piece of legislation that will be left unenforced right across the country. When I see additional powers being given to local authorities I look fairly seriously at the powers the same local authorities acquired over the last couple of years. I am thinking of the Anti-Pollution Act and the Occasional Trading Act. Neither of those Acts is being adequately enforced throughout this country.
As one travels along some roads one is ashamed to see these occasional traders either selling from barrels or selling from ordinary stalls and one never sees the licences they are supposed to display. They have music playing which contravenes another Act as well. I hope that local authorities will be financed by the appropriate Department to carry out their functions. Indeed, in the Litter Bill there are some costly items for which money will have to be found. I hope the Minister will give the House an indication of how it is proposed to finance the additional responsibilities that local authorities will be asked to undertake. For instance, there is the introduction of litter wardens and the entire scheme that goes with them. Indeed, the provisions of section 2 will increase the costs of the local authorities who are at present working on very strained budgets right across the country. Will they have the finance to implement this Bill when enacted by both Houses of the Oireachtas?
Neither the anti-pollution legislation nor the Occasional Trading Act is being implemented in many parts of the country at present. As a matter of fact, the menace would appear to be growing. These go hand in hand because where occasional trading is carried on, the hallmark is certainly pollution and litter; places are usually left in a dreadful state. I very much regret that no effort has been made to improve the situation. In all market towns you have people in the private sector, the small shopkeepers, trying to carry on a trade with ever-increasing overheads and these occasional traders come in and take a fair slice of the spending power in an area and thumb their noses at the law. Even after last year's legislation on which we spent hours here last summer, there is no sign of a check on these people. They, I presume, are trading without the disability of having to pay either VAT or tax and obviously have no licences either.
I hope that this legislation will be taken seriously because we certainly need it across the country. In recent years local authorities have put on a comprehensive and fairly good service in most counties. Practically every hamlet or village has at least a weekly refuse collection which is of great benefit. It is such a shame to find our sylvan settings and pastoral scenes marred by discarded plastic and tin cans and bottles. Tough measures must be taken. Something can also be done through our educational system. There must be something seriously wrong with the civics curriculum in our schools when it obviously has no effect on the youth of the country. If one goes through any town, especially on Sunday mornings one will find that in the vicinity of every fast food outlet one is almost ankle deep in litter. The educational system could make a contribution here.
I welcome this Bill. There is much that will require greater elucidation on Committee Stage. I would like the Minister to guarantee that councils will be given the extra finance to ensure that this Bill when it becomes an Act will be implemented. I would like to know what steps will be taken to ensure that it is not left lying on the shelf and ignored by all. It is absolutely useless having legislation in a democracy unless the public respect the legislation and make a genuine effort. In regard to the vast majority of our people it is not necessary to have such legislation because they have a pride and joy and respect for both private and public property. There is a small percentage of thoughtless persons for whom unfortunately we have to have this legislation, and that legislation will have to be made tougher so that the penalties will sting and people will know that they have offended against the public decency. I wish the Minister success with this Bill and hope he will indicate how finance will be made available.