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:

I would say we are probably similar to England. From what I have been seeing on Facebook pages and hearing, I think there is a problem in England as well in some places. I think it is the same. In many ways, Ireland is doing the same in trying to comply with the sustainable use of pesticides directive, SUD. Many countries are ahead such as those I mentioned earlier. Some countries such as Holland have even banned pesticide sales outside of agricultural use. A person cannot even buy it for the garden. It is just for agricultural use. In those countries, it is not sprayed by councils and things like that.