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

I think that refills are happening on a very small scale in small businesses. My impression is that it is not happening in a very sustainable way. Some small shops ask people to refill their containers and give customers a discount on the product. We are asking people to change their culture, mindset and habits, which is very difficult to do. A broader application of the concept is needed. For this reason, we need to get the multiples involved. Molloy's Butchers in Ardkeen, Waterford, provides a good example of what I am talking about. I met the butcher there about a week ago and he told me he was offering discounts to the customers if they brought their own container for meat. He is offering a 25% discount. He said that he kept increasing the discount because nobody was taking it up. He has now got to 25% and he still has a very low take-up rate. It is irrational if people can you can buy €20 euros worth of meat for €15 but they do not take the offer. This can only be explained by the fact that people are not used to this kind of idea. The butcher has signs up all over the shop but bringing a container in this kind of situation is not a habit that people have become used to yet. The Deputy heard it here first, he can go in there an avail of the offer.