Before I call Senator Paraic Brady, I welcome Leona Brady, who is most welcome to Seanad Éireann. Leona is on TY placement with her father and we look forward to the report card that she will give to Senator Brady on this particular speech. Leona should take out the pen and paper and we will see how he gets on.

I thank the Cathaoirleach. I would like to discuss the issue of fly-tipping in local bogs and amenity areas. It has become a huge issue, not only in the county of Longford, but throughout Ireland. People are making huge amounts of money by lifting household and building site rubbish and fly-tipping it. This comes at a great cost to our local authorities. I call for a discussion on this issue and for greater powers to be given to local authorities with regard to cameras at black spots and other areas that are known to be subject to fly-tipping.

The rules are that, if someone is caught fly-tipping, he or she gets a slap on the wrist and a €250 fine the first time and a €1,500 fine the second time. However, these rules are not working. We need to be serious about this if we intend to protect our environment, bogs and walkways. I am calling for an increase in the fines to a minimum of €10,000 - yes, Members heard what I said. If these people are not prepared to pay this, then it should be taken at source from whatever they own. This is the reality. Unless we get tough on this, it will continue throughout the whole of Ireland.

Some might laugh at that. However, people are fly-tipping recyclable tyres, recyclable plastic and household waste. It is unacceptable in this day and age, with all of the companies out there providing a service by lifting bins and so on. It is a big issue that needs to be addressed in this House. We need to give the local authorities the powers to address this. We need to start as we mean to go on by increasing the fines, and if people do not pay them, they will get jail. We need to stand up and be counted on this. It is a huge issue that is affecting rural Ireland at this time.