Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

My last question is for Mr. Hogg. It is very useful to have him here because he does have extensive international experience. I am very concerned when certain of my colleagues say we need to test or we do not know the potential implications when around the world, in America, Australia and Europe, similar schemes exist. It is not as if we are shooting for the moon. There are numerous international examples of deposit and refund schemes.

One of the key questions the Department asks relates to what might be the cost. I am not sure Mr. Hogg has done the mathematics in breaking down the cost of a deposit and refund scheme but let us say there was a 10, 15 or 20 cent deposit refund what would be the cost per bottle for operating the scheme? Has Mr. Hogg done any work on that? He said earlier that he is sceptical of the statistics for recycling rates here. The recycling rates are uncertain. I think that is why the public is also suspicious about this area. We are not clear about what is going where.

Where does Mr. Hogg think best practice exists? Where would we look for example? My understanding is that the Scottish Government has agreed to commit and introduce this scheme. It is not doing it on a trial basis but across Scotland and I understand the UK Government is about to do the same. It will not do it on a trial basis but across the UK. What would be the implications for the Border if there was a collection refund scheme in the North but not in the South?