While I welcome and respect the right of the Labour Party to raise the issues raised by Deputy Howlin, it seems to have forgotten that it was in power for the past five years. The abuse of women did not start today or yesterday.

I wish to press the immediate issue of the exorbitant increase in waste charges that will come into effect on 1 July. Questions have been submitted to the Government on this issue, which was also raised last week and this week in the House. How can the Government stand over these charges and the sharp practices in which waste companies are engaged? Under the polluter pays principle, the less waste a householder sends to landfill, the less he or she pays. What we are seeing, however, is that exactly the opposite is the case and people are incensed, anxious and angry. Greyhound's current service charge of €59.95 is set to increase to €169 per annum. This charge must be paid before a bin is lifted. The company will charge 35 cents per kilogram of black bin waste and 23 cents per kilogram of brown bin waste. The service charge imposed by Thorntons is set to increase from €50 to €104, while its rates for black and grey bin waste will be similar to those charged by Greyhound. The Government introduced a minimum mandatory fee of 11 cents per kilogram for black bin waste and 6 cents per kilogram of brown bin waste and yet the waste companies are charging the prices to which I referred.

What will these charges mean for a family? In the case of Thorntons, the cost of having a brown bin weighing 40 kg collected will increase from €6.40 to €8, while the collection of a black bin will increase from €9.90 to €10.50 for 30 kg of waste and €14 for 40 kg of waste. Disabled people who are incontinent and use nappies will have to pay the same price as everyone else. Under the new charges, a household which has a black bin collected 26 times per annum will pay €364 compared to €267 currently.

The Government lauded the increase of €3 per week in the old age pension last year. Most pensioners with private pensions had these cut by at least 80 cents. Local authority rents also increased and the new waste charges will wipe out the remainder of the increase. For ordinary people, the recovery means more of the same austerity.

The Government argues that the new waste charging regime will result in greater competition. Waste disposal is a cartel in which there is no competition. Competition has meant increasing waste charges. I intended to make a few points about the companies involved in the industry but I will return to that issue.

We are running out of time. The Deputy should ask a question.

The increases in waste charges affect a large number of individuals and households. The Government should remember that the last time it introduced charges that affected most households was when it imposed water charges. People are incensed about the increases in waste charges and they will react to them. One of the e-mails I have received on the issue states that ordinary householders will be ripped off by the waste companies if something is not done quickly. The Government must regulate this issue by imposing a cap on annual charges with immediate effect.

Deputy Joan Collins stated that a cartel operates among the collectors of bins. That would be a criminal offence. If evidence exists that a cartel operates in respect of bin charges and the collection of bins, it would be a matter for investigation by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. The theory and spirit behind the legislation drafted on this issue was that it would not be a new charge in respect of waste being collected but would be a new way of thinking about how people could reduce their charges by using brown and green bins to a greater extent for recyclables, food and so on. The Minister for housing, local government and planning has been perfectly clear.

I am monitoring the position very carefully. The spirit of the legislation is to allow people to think differently about the waste put in bins. The charges set were as follows: 11 cent for a black bin of residual waste and 6 cent for a brown bin of organic waste. The Minister decided there would be a zero cent charge in the case of green bins. Given the concern expressed and because of the fact that numerous bin companies are operating in the greater Dublin area, the position is being monitored carefully by the Minister. The legislation was set in such a way that people would understand clearly that better use of the brown and green bins would reduce the amount to be placed in the black bin and that, therefore, charges should not rise. The position is being monitored carefully by the Minister.

The Taoiseach referred to the spirit of the legislation. However, this concerns multinational and profit-making companies and it does not happen that way, as is evident in this case. Without putting out a bin, there is an increase from €59.95 to €169 per annum. That is not the spirit of recycling. This is relevant for Thorntons. It has been reported in the media today that families are finding themselves subject to a 75% increase in waste charges calculated over one year. That is not in the spirit of recycling. The Taoiseach should initiate an investigation into the cartels. For example, if people move from Greyhound to Thorntons, they are charged a registration fee of €40. If they want to move to a bin company which operates outside the areas in which these companies generally work - for example, Thorntons and Greyhound operate in my area - they cannot get another to come in. Another company will not come into an area to collect ten bins. It will only do so if it will have a monopoly or enough bins to collect in a given area. People are incensed about this issue. I have organised public meetings in Drimnagh, Ballyfermot and Crumlin in the coming two weeks and I invite my fellow Deputies to join in them.

The Deputy's time is up.

Others should go to their constituents to ask them what they think. We will organise and resist this measure.

There is competition in city areas. While it is not a new charge on households, it does mean a change in how most people will pay for waste collection services from 1 July. It gives households more control-----

It means an increase for most people.

Can the Taoiseach speak without interruption, please?

It gives households more control in how they place their waste in the green, brown or black bin. The spirit of the legislation is that better use of the green and brown bins means less in the black bin; therefore, it should result in a lower cost.

That will not be the case if there is an increase in the standing charge.

May we have order, please?

The Minister has undertaken to monitor the position carefully. Deputy Joan Collins is making an allegation that there is a cartel operating among waste collection companies.

There is. It is profiteering.

If so, she should bring the matter to the attention of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission because it is a criminal offence.

It is a criminal offence to operate a cartel in this industry.

The time is up. I thank all of the leaders for their co-operation in the use of the clock today.