Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Bruton, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, on their new roles. I wish them well, and every good luck. I am glad to have the opportunity to talk on this very important topic. We all know that there is too much plastic around. It is a demon, and it is hard to control. As a publican I can see that plastic is everywhere, and it is hard to understand why we need so much of it. A few years ago every bottle in the pub was made of glass. They were all refundable, and if one gave out a few bottles for a station or something similar one made sure to get them back again. The bottles where noted wherever they went so that they could be retrieved. We have moved away from that. There was nothing wrong with that system. The bottles were brought back, washed and reused. Today bottles are either made of plastic or glass, but they are non-returnable. Coke bottles do not go back. Lucozade bottles are not wanted back by the companies. Many of the cider bottles are made from plastic. Six-packs are wrapped up in plastic and the bottles are non-returnable, as are sparkling water bottles and Smirnoff Ice bottles. People have no interest in bringing them back and publicans do not want to go out and get their bottles back.

We have a great facility now where one can go into any shop and get a cup of tea no matter where it is. In most shops in most rural villages one can get a cup of tea, but we are inclined to bring away a plastic cup. People should be encouraged and incentivised to bring their own cups and reuse it all the time.

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