Introduction
Good morning ladies and gentlemen, and thank you for the opportunity to address you this morning.
The theme of this year’s summit – "It’s Decision Time", is most appropriate. Even before I entered office, I had been hearing calls for decisions to be made in respect of waste policy. It is an area in which uncertainty has reigned for quite some time. I will be bringing that uncertainty to an end very shortly.
Policy Process
As can happen in Irish life, no sooner had I promised certainty than there were appeals not to rush decisions! Undoubtedly, the decisions I will make will not deliver every stakeholder’s wishes. However, one thing I can assure you all here today, the decisions to be taken will not be driven by any one group, project or technology. Neither is it the case that the outcome of policy decisions is pre-determined. I am examining the contributions made to the public consultation processes, the views of stakeholders and the evidence presented and will make decisions on the basis of what I judge is best for the country.
There are no foregone conclusions in this process. However, if a certain viewpoint is not the driver of a particular outcome, it does not mean that the viewpoint was not considered. We must all realise that, while we may have a certain perspective on change, other perspectives are also valid and legitimate.
I want to bring the deliberative process to an end shortly, but I appreciate that some of you wish to provide additional information to help inform the process and where possible, this will be accommodated. And while it will not be a case of "if you’re not in, you can’t win", I would urge you to convey information you wish to help inform the policy process as soon as possible, lest the opportunity be lost. It is in nobody’s interests that decisions are delayed.
What will influence decisions?
In developing a new waste policy, there are number of issues to be considered. Everyone in this room is well aware of the impact that recent economic events have had on the finances of the State, businesses and families and this cannot but have a significant bearing on policy decisions. Indeed it would be hugely inappropriate for me not to have due regard to such considerations.
There is also the issue of Ireland’s place in Europe and there is some significant work to be done to repair the perception of our country among our fellow Member States. Therefore, it is essential that policy, and its implementation in particular, supports compliance with our EU obligations. I see a role in this for both the public and the private sectors, building on their respective strengths, in ensuring that we meet our European obligations.
Contrary to what some people would wish you to believe, I want to see strong environmental outcomes resulting from our policy initiatives. For example, I want to see a greater level of awareness of waste prevention among the private and public sectors and among householders. This is a clear area where the economic and the environmental objectives come together. Not only can we have a reduction in the environmental impact of the way we live and do business, but we can all reduce the cost of managing our waste.
I have clearly set out the principles which will inform waste policy earlier this year and I do not wish to isolate any of them. However, it is fair to say that a key issue is securing a balance in responsibility for the management of our waste, between those of you in the waste sector, consumers and producers. It should also be clear to you, that a key issue is who bears the appropriate portion of the costs of managing the waste generated. We need to examine how we assign responsibility for meeting our binding obligations across the waste management stream, while ensuring that the mechanisms in place are robust enough to guarantee delivery of those targets. This is a matter which will fall to be considered, in particular in the upcoming review of producer responsibility initiatives. Equally, my new policy will adhere to the waste hierarchy and this will be key to developing a sustainable approach to the management of our waste.
Regulation
I do not believe in regulation for regulation’s sake. I realise that with regulation, comes some degree of regulatory burden. It is not in anyone’s interest to have overly complicated and costly regulatory regimes. Such approaches impede business and indeed the regulators and undermine the entire point of regulation.
I believe it is possible to have a robust regulatory regime which balances the need to ensure the environment is safeguarded, while efficiency and cost effectiveness are maximised. The most recent example of business and the regulators working to drive such an approach was the centralised controls for the internal movement of hazardous waste which I introduced in July. I want to see more of this and perhaps the area of waste permitting is the next obvious candidate for such an approach.
While wanting to have an efficient regulatory system, I will not shrink from introducing new regulation where problems are identified be it in the area of waste charges or other waste transactions. I will not fail to act decisively if I believe that action is warranted.
Waste Enforcement
Most people in the waste sector are law abiding citizens whose only wish is to make an honest living. Unfortunately, a small number of unscrupulous operators, largely operating in the black economy, are undermining the work of all of us to protect the environment. I fully support the work of the EPA and the local authorities in enforcing existing waste and litter legislation. Even in these challenging economic circumstances I continue to ensure the necessary funding is available for waste enforcement officers and the Office of Environmental Enforcement. If anything, I want to see more targeted enforcement to drive greater compliance.
I know that some local authorities have been very proactive in working on a cross agency basis, tackling issues such as illegal ELV sites and scrap metal theft. This approach, involving the Gardaí, Revenue, the Department of Social Protection and local authorities has produced significant results. There is a level of criminality involved in some instances where such a robust approach is required. Many of those involved in these illegal businesses are doing environmental and economic damage that the country cannot afford and should not be subjected to.
When I came into office, I prioritised an improvement in the area of compliance with EU legislation, as has Commissioner Potocnik. I intend to drive forward progress in this area and I will expect the people here today to support and play their part in our drive to restore this country’s national reputation.
Illegal Waste and Litter Activities
I want to touch on the area of litter and fly-tipping today also. There would appear to be a disconnect in certain people’s minds between what they do in the management of their waste and Ireland’s international reputation. In damaging our environment, the dumpers and litterers damage the image and reputation of Ireland.
These people do not seem to realise that this in turn damages the prospect of their sons and daughters in securing employment in Ireland. It is not merely a question of alienating tourists, we need to realise that our natural environment is what tips the balance in our favour in terms of international investment. I believe we need to raise the awareness of this and in the spring I will be launching just such an awareness campaign, coupled with a strengthening of enforcement measures.
Engagement with Stakeholders
I know that there are ongoing contacts between my Department and the key stakeholders, often through the formal mechanism of public consultation. Irrespective of the decisions that will be made in relation to the new waste policy, it is essential that these channels of communication remain open. I want to ensure that stakeholders can feed into the implementation of policy and identify areas of concern. I also want stakeholders to make positive suggestions in relation to how policy is implemented and indeed in relation to the design of individual policy measures. This holistic view of our agenda, from policy conception all the way through to successful policy implementation, will be crucial if we are to be truly successful in our endeavours.
Therefore, I am today announcing the establishment of a Waste Management Forum. The Forum will provide stakeholders with the opportunity to present their views on waste issues twice a year. I expect the Forum to have its first meeting early in 2012 and I will be ensuring that the membership of the Forum provides representation of a broad range of stakeholders. The role of the Forum will be to feed views and suggestions into the ongoing process of ensuring sustainable waste management in Ireland.
I am sure that such a mechanism will build on the positive contribution of all stakeholders to the policy development process. I want the Forum to harness that "can do" spirit which has seen the waste sector through the recent challenging times.
Conclusion
It is decision time. My new waste policy will set a clear path for the future and will also provide the opportunities for all stakeholders to contribute to the development of the detailed implementation of a range of policy measures. My policy will be strong on ambition; let there be no mistake about that. But, at the same time, I am not in the business of making idle commitments which take no account of the wider context in which we find ourselves and which I know cannot be delivered.
What we need is a clear level of ambition imbued with a healthy dose of realism in terms of what we set out to achieve - I am determined that my new waste policy will deliver on this.
Thank you.