Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for all the expert opinion that we have heard. It has been a very interesting discussion. We will be fully supportive of a ban on microbeads but I hear the point that has been made by experts and academics today, that microbeads represent a small fraction of the problem and the issue is far broader than that. There are two ways in which one can deal with that. One is to broaden the Bill so that it deals not just with microbeads, but microfibres and microplastics more generally, or second, it can be a first step which opens the door and is followed quickly and rapidly with extra legislation which tackles microfabrics and microplastics. I have an open opinion as to which is the best way to go. The basic point is that the broader picture must be addressed with urgency, but comprehensively and in a robust way.