I raise with the Taoiseach the commitment to protect the environment in the programme for Government. Perhaps he saw the recent "RTÉ Investigates" programme, "Ireland's Wild Waste". It is more like the Wild West. The side by side competition and privatisation model in Ireland is chaotic and has been shown to be failing in protecting the environment. Ireland has one of the best records for separating waste in Europe. Householders are doing their piece and paying dearly for having their waste removed. However, some waste companies are involved in criminal behaviour. All sides of the House are concerned about this, as we should be. The maximum fine of €2,500 is akin to fining a Member of the Oireachtas €10. The culprits are laughing because there is no penalty or substantial deterrent in place for waste companies. I raised this issue with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten. I now put it to the Taoiseach that we need greater local authority control over waste management. We also need to streamline enforcement, which is currently a patchwork.

The Deputy's time is up.

I will conclude. We need to give powers to the Environmental Protection Agency and local councils to get on with controlling the waste industry.

I will not be able to call on other speakers if Deputies do not keep to time.

I am not sure I agree with the Deputy's analysis. When these matters were solely controlled by local authorities and councils, there was no recycling and everything was dumped in landfills. I know all about it because the biggest dump was in my constituency. The Deputy's ideological analysis does not stand up to reason. The penalties under the Waste Management Act are substantial. There is a fine of €5,000 on summary conviction, or imprisonment of up to 12 months, and a maximum fine of up to €15 million on conviction on indictment, and-or imprisonment of up to ten years. These are stiff penalties. We need to see them enforced and applied.