Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad the Minister is here for this debate. In this initiative we are being led by people on the ground who are way ahead of us. Sunday is Earth Day and the focus is on the global to support the effort to eliminate single use plastics. On Saturday there is an initiative to encourage large supermarkets and retailers to refuse the use of plastic packaging on food. There is also the Citizens' Assembly. I come from Galway where I and other politicians were led by the nose. Management were led by the nose when the people of Galway showed what was possible and we reached 70% recycling in a pilot project. The engineers had told us it was not possible. They said 45% over five years was the maximum. The reality is different.

Plastic manufacturing employs 1.5 million people in the EU and has a turnover of €350 billion. That accounts for only 18% of the plastic produced globally every year. It is obviously very good for the economy on one level but all Deputies have considered its consequences. The plastic in our oceans occupies a space three times the size of France. Before I came in here I was going to say it was the size of France but my colleague in my office corrected me. That is an incredible figure and if it does not force us to show leadership and take action I do not know what will.

The scientists in NUIG, in my city, have studied only the north-west Atlantic Ocean and have shown that 73% of the 233 deep water fish there have ingested plastic particles. They are entering the food chain with unknown consequences for not only the environment but for human health. The World Economic Forum projects that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in our oceans.

The last time we spoke on this subject when the Green Party tabled its Bill the Ceann Comhairle said he would show leadership and take action. I understand he has done that in the restaurant. Will the Leas-Cheann Comhairle come back to us with details on what action was taken? As a result of the debate some action was taken on a minute level.

There is huge potential for jobs and the economy. Only 3%-5% of all new plastic products use recyclable plastic. The other 97% or 95% is going to waste that cannot be recycled. We have no choice but to recognise that this is a crisis and to listen to those who are begging us to show leadership and do something about it. I would like the Minister to come back to us with an action plan. We do not have a bad record on repackaging and recycling plastic under EU regulations but that target has changed significantly and in 12 years' time we will have to reach the target. What is our action plan? Will we meet that target? I would like to see a written report every six months showing what progress we are making. In addition to each of us taking action in our daily lives, we need leadership from the Government. We all need to be involved. The Minister needs at least to produce a six-month plan, given what I and other Deputies have just said.

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