The new Minister for the Environment, Mr Roche, pledged that he would not allow his Wicklow constituency to be disfigured by waste disposal.
"I am not prepared to see the garden of Ireland despoiled further," Mr Roche said.
"A coherent policy must be introduced and a willingness to deal with the problems demonstrated."
The Minister was replying to the Fine Gael spokesman on the environment, Mr Bernard Allen, who asked if he believed that incineration should be included in fast-track legislation dealing with waste management.
Mr Roche said that the waste framework directive as amended established the basic principle of dealing with waste in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way.
"To the degree that is possible, there is a waste hierarchy of reduction, reuse, recycling and recovery of which we are all aware. The use of modern, clean thermal facilities with heat energy recovery constitutes an important part of any sustainable waste management policy.
"Landfill, which we still use to a predominant extent, should and will be used only for residual waste.
"This extensive policy is supported within the Programme for Government and very much accords with my own views. After all, I live in and represent a county which has featured more than most in the context of the dreadful waste-disposal problems we have."
Mr Allen said that Mr Roche had made many statements about illegal dumping in Wicklow and had stated that the full rigours of the law should be used against major companies.
"As he is now the man in charge, will the Minister put his words into action?"
Mr Roche said nobody was above or beneath the law.
"Its full rigours must be visited upon those who have done so much environmental damage. It is simply unacceptable that the burden of dealing with their past behaviour should fall on taxpayers."
He added that he would be as active as before in promoting this position in Wicklow and elsewhere.
"Where there has been transgression, I will insist that the existing legal base is used with effect by local authorities to prosecute such action as is necessary."
Mr Roche said he had been to the fore in encouraging a position in which local authorities prosecuted irrespective of status or size.
"I assure Deputy Allen that the energy I put into the issue as a mere councillor will be reflected in my efforts as Minister. As recently as today, I have made it clear that I expect action to be taken in the areas outlined," Mr Roche said.
