Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to speak to amendment No. 1 in respect of applications to the EPA for licences. I highlight to the Minister of State an anomaly of which I am sure he has been made aware. It relates to polyethylene terephthalate, PET, plastics and the ludicrous situation whereby we have the facilities to recycle those plastics in this State, but according to information Deputies and Senators have received, a substantial quantity, if not the vast majority, of PET plastic collected in this State is exported internationally for recycling. At the same time, those indigenous operators that can carry out such recycling are forced to import similar quantities of PET plastic. That indicates the exact opposite of what a circular economy should be.

There are a number of reasons for this. The first ludicrous situation is that the PET that is exported, which brings an increased carbon footprint, is actually subsidised by Irish taxpayers. We pay those people who collect that plastic material and then export it with no obligation on them to try to ensure the most environmentally sustainable mechanism by which to recycle it.

The second glaring issue concerns the taxation of virgin plastic material. This Government, our green Government, is refusing to enact a tax on virgin plastic, as other member states have. Instead it says this needs to happen at a co-ordinated EU level. However, the Government has no problem when it comes to putting charges on ordinary workers and families for their use of products to which they by and large have no alternative, as they pick them off the supermarket shelves. The Government can introduce taxation arrangements at a domestic level almost immediately but it will not do it when it has an impact on large multinational corporations. In this instance it is the corporations using virgin plastic material. This is important because, as other member states have taxation arrangements on that material, producers of plastic commodities want to use recycled plastic. What are they doing as a result? They are paying above the odds for Irish bottles that have been put into our recycling bins. I am sure the Minister of State accepts that is an absolutely crazy situation.

The reason I have an interest in this and am so aware of it is one of the companies, if not the only one, with the capacity to carry out this recycling is Shabra Plastics in my constituency. It is an excellent company and an excellent employer. It is a company that should be a flagship of this Government's promotion of the circular economy. Instead, this Government's actions could put that company out of business. I urge the Minister of State and the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Ryan, to come to County Monaghan, visit Shabra Plastics and see what is in place. Then they should put in place a taxation regime for virgin plastic and for once target waste at the source in relation to those companies producing plastic commodities rather than ordinary consumers. The second action is to stop subsidising the exportation of plastic material out of this State when that material can be recycled here in this State. I make that appeal to the Minister of State. I hope he can give us a substantive and positive response.

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