Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)

I move amendment No. 3:

In page 12, to delete lines 30 to 33 and substitute the following:

""(3) The amount of the levy shall be specified in the regulations under subsection (2) but shall not exceed an amount of 26 cent for each plastic bag supplied to a customer.".

We discussed the matter this morning. The plastic bag levy was a great levy. Before its introduction - it seems like not so long ago - every hedgerow in the country had plastic bags and we were all doing the glan suas once or twice a year to clean up our local areas. We propose that the amount allowed in the legislation be reduced from 70 cent as that is too high. Currently the charge is 22 cent and it works reasonably well. This levy will hit those on the low incomes and as we heard this morning, another tax has been added for people to pay, with a €100 household levy to be imposed. I appreciate the Minister's indication that currently it is not his plan to raise the levy to 70 cent but we do not have any guarantee that it would not happen in the near future. This is unfair, especially as there seems to be very little in the legislation that brings in manufacturers, wholesalers and the pollution they produce. That should also be addressed.

The plastic bag levy has been progressive and it may be introduced in the other part of the island. It is a good measure that has reduced waste, which we appreciate. We support the levy in principle but we are committed to robust environmental protection. That necessarily involves the use of legislation that challenges attitudes and the practices of businesses and consumers alike while promoting behavioural change. The change proposed to the plastic bag levy focuses too much on consumers, and it will hit low income households to a greater extent. We must see similar approaches for manufacturers and businesses to encourage them to act accordingly.