I do not know if the Leader has had an opportunity to watch the "RTÉ Investigates" programme that was broadcast last Monday evening. The programme dealt with the crisis of dumping in the countryside and the pathetic court sanctions imposed. In one case, the National Parks and Wildlife Service stated it had discovered the worst dumping incident its staff had ever seen. The court imposed a fine of €2,500.

Appalling.

Apparently, the perpetrators had to clean up their rubbish but that was only because they were forced to do so.

There is a real crisis in County Donegal. We had the incidence of Ferry's Refuse, which was extensively reported and which demonstrated the lack of power enjoyed by our courts and enforcement systems. "RTÉ Investigates" revealed there are tens of thousands of tonnes of illegal household waste dumped at a huge dump at a location in the hills in the Inishowen Peninsula and near Moville. If that was not bad enough, on Tuesday morning a constituent brought a recent report published by Village magazine to my attention. I warn Senators that I may cite its figures twice because they are so shocking. In 2011, the Sunday Life newspaper brought to the attention of Donegal County Council that up to 10 million tyres were buried in the hills above Carndonagh on the Inishowen Peninsula. It has been alleged that as many as 10 million tyres have been illegally buried in those hills by an operation from Derry working in conjunction with a landowner. Seven years later, Village magazine alleges that not only have the 10 million tyres not been removed but that as many as 6 million more tyres have been buried there subsequently, using a permit for land reclamation. I have talked about County Donegal but instances of dumping have occurred throughout western rural counties. In those counties, as one works one's way inland, there have been many instances of illegal waste being buried and each time, the perpetrators only get a slap on the wrist.

The Leader, who acts on behalf of the Government, must accept that the laws are not working. We have very good people who work as part of Tidy Towns groups. The volunteers work long hours to keep communities tidy, paint derelict buildings and so on. Schools proudly display their green flags and blue flags as part of an environmental scheme that teaches young people the value of the motto to reduce, reuse and recycle. Yet criminals or criminal gangs operate together throughout this country and make their fortunes while giving two fingers to the people. After lengthy prosecutions instigated by local authorities or the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, which are very technical difficult cases to bring to court, the perpetrators just get a slap on the wrist. The legal system is a disaster and has failed. I ask the Government to learn from the fantastic investigative work done by "RTÉ Investigates". I urge the Government to urgently review the laws and improve resources. I believe we need one agency to tackle the issue and that we should not leave it to local authorities. One agency should be made responsible for making sure that waste is properly disposed of. It also must ensure that those who are involved in criminality are sent to jail rather than given a slap on the wrist.

Hear, hear.

Well done.

I watched the programme, Senator Mac Lochlainn. I was puzzled how such a substantial amount of illegal dumping could take place without somebody knowing somewhere. Many questions need to be answered, including the enforcement of the law raised by the Senator.

I call the next two speakers, who are Senator Ó Donnghaile and Senator Noone. I suggest that Senator Noone speaks first, to bring balance to the discussion.

I wholeheartedly agree with what Senator Mac Lochlainn has said about the dumping issue. We need to adopt a cross-party view on the environment as a whole.

Notwithstanding the issue pointed out by the Senator earlier, we have an uneducated population when it comes to the environment. That is reflected in how we are performing internationally on the environment. So much more needs to be done. I have been requesting a debate for some time just on the environment. We need a lengthy debate on it.

At local level, if one deposits something in a refuse bin on the street, there is no recycling at that level. Across the board, we are performing poorly on the environment. Every day it becomes more obvious, once one takes a keen interest in it. I support the Senator on that and anything that can be done to improve our laws in this area. In general, when it comes to the environment, our behaviour is way below par. Clearly, all sides of the House need to take a keener interest in the environment.

On the issue of the Mexican-US border, Senator Marie-Louise O’Donnell is correct. I do not know that the US President, Donald Trump, will give a damn if we do not turn up for a Fourth of July party which has been organised. However, it is something we can do to show what we think of his latest policy when it comes to the more vulnerable members of society. It is inhumane and horrific. The scenes and descriptions of how families are being treated would draw tears from anyone. Acts like this are happening in the US, a country that was seen in the past by Irish people and by many other nationalities as the land of hope and opportunity. This is how it is conducting itself now. It is a small gesture we could make on this and I support Senator Ó Ríordáin on this. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, has been vocal in his disgust at how these families are being treated on the Mexican-US border. Clearly, anything that can be done at an Irish level should be done.