Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to wholeheartedly welcome the Bill. I thank the Minister and his officials for bringing it before the House. We have been through quite a process since 2016 in seeking to have this placed firmly on the agenda and I am delighted to be part of a process where we are in agreement with the Government's Bill on the important issue of banning microbeads. I acknowledge Senator Grace O'Sullivan's role in this because she started the ball rolling. When her Bill was rejected by the Government on the basis of Single Market issues and certain articles in the EU treaty, we took up the cudgels. As has been stated, we used the precedent of the smoking ban as a mechanism to progress the issue through the introduction of our own Bill. I recall speaking on Second Stage of that legislation on 4 May 2017 and acknowledging that it was not being opposed at that juncture and that I would gladly withdraw it if I saw the colour of the Government's money. I am glad that the Minister has delivered on the promise that was made. While I am possibly in uncharted territory in that I may be the only member of the Opposition to withdraw a Private Members' Bill, which I am not sure there is precedent for, on the basis of a commitment the Government gave to introduce its own legislation, I did so on trust. I am glad to state that my trust was repaid with the publication of the Bill before us.

The passing of this legislation could be the Minister's greatest legacy. Future generations will thank this House for legislating in respect of this very important issue. Notwithstanding that, we all know what microplastics and microbeads are. I do not need to speak about their effect on the environment. We are all well-educated on the effect that they have for marine and other life in our watercourses and the oceans.

I have a question on a matter to which Deputy Ó Broin referred. I refer to the lack of intention on the part of the Government to target leave-on or wear-off products at this time. I know it is not possible for the Minister, his officials or any of the agencies of State to police the daily ablutions of citizens regarding what they do in their own bathrooms but we have to acknowledge that, even when the Bill is enacted, the risk that microplastics will still enter our watercourses and the oceans. I want the Minister and his officials to clarify the position in respect of the leave-on products.

The Minister stated:

Although there are readily available alternative ingredients to replace plastic microbeads in rinse-off cosmetic products, manufacturers cannot currently reformulate leave-on cosmetic products as easily. The impact to the cosmetics industry and to consumers would be enormous if such a blanket ban was introduced at this time.

The primary purpose of the legislation is not to take on the cosmetics industry, its modus operandiis for an environmental good, to ensure future marine life and human health so that we are not ingesting this plastic back into our systems. We already have an evidence base which shows us that sea life is already consuming plastics and it is inherent within it and humans as well. I am worried if we are not going the whole hog in terms of banning microbeads outright and if we are introducing an exception. I hope the Minister will allay my fears when he replies. If we have to wait for a six-year lead-in time for restricting leave-on cosmetic products on the basis that he is allowing for product reformulation, then I am fearful that we may be in a position where we will not have tackled the problem fully. I accept the Minister's bona fides in respect of the Irish position but I am concerned because, as Deputy Ó Broin indicated, the cosmetics lobby has more direct access to the European Commission than any member state in terms of the efficacy of its lobbying. It could seek to put a stay on any legislative proposals coming from the Commission in respect of wiping out the use of microbeads in cosmetics altogether. I hope my concerns in this regard will be addressed.

I have a question on the maximum size of microbeads, which is referred to as being 5 mm. Is there any industry standard specifying 5 mm? Was the figure determined on the basis of advice received from particular entities or scientific advisers? It is not that I doubt the 5 mm specification in any way but I am interested in the logic behind it.

I welcome the legislation and I thank the Minister for bringing it before the House. I acknowledge that he delivered on the commitment he gave that he would legislate in respect of this issue. I also acknowledge that all Members of this House, in a non-partisan way and through the interventions they have made, are very clear regarding their intention to seek to have this matter legislated for.

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