Ms Bernie Kiely:

The Department does not pay anything; the taxpayer does not pay. This is about the producers of plastics paying for the responsible management of the plastic at its end of life. The important thing is that whatever plastic is presented legitimately is accepted and recycled. The success of the scheme has to be acknowledged. The plastic is not just collected but it is actually recycled and made into other products which, in itself, is a considerable achievement because a lot of plastic, for example through household collection, would not end up being recycled. The recycling of farm plastics is a standout success in that regard. The target is 70%; it is not a limit. The scheme has achieved and continues to achieve in a very robust and resilient way. Farmers are by all accounts very satisfied with the service that is provided.