Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I was asked by Deputy Devlin about the engagement I have had with industry and would like to reply to that question. My Department has ongoing engagement with IBEC and with Food Drink Ireland on this and a range other matters. I recently met representatives of Retail Ireland and the chief executives of Chadwicks, Maxol and Musgraves to discuss this. One of the largest disposable cup manufacturers in Ireland has had engagement, not directly with me but with my Department, to discuss the implications of this Bill. The Bill says that before any levy is imposed on any particular product type, there must be consultation with the public and with industry. A levy cannot come in automatically without that happening but even so, leading up to this there is continual engagement and I meet representatives of SMEs every three months, as a matter of course.