Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 12 May 2022

Committee on Public Petitions

Consideration of Public Petition on a Ban on Herbicides in Public Areas: Discussion

Mr. James Walsh:

Yes, probably. We see a lot more organic food and stuff in the supermarkets, so it is kind of going that way. The legislation provides that alternatives have to be prioritised, documented evidence is needed and spraying should not be done in public areas. In the European legislation, Directive 2009/128/EC, states that spraying is particularly dangerous. In the introduction of the directive on which the SUD is based, it states it is particularly dangerous to spray in areas used by the general public. It outlines that it is specifically dangerous for children, elderly people and vulnerable people with underlying illnesses. Article 3 of the main European legislation states that. All the legislation says not to use it.