Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

We will press our amendment. We agree with the Minister that the plastic bag levy is important and it is a significant environmental provision. It is a pillar in trying to bring about the results which have been evident in recent years. It was noted on Second Stage that we do not see as many plastic bags hurled into ditches and dumped because people are more cautious when they are paying for the plastic bag. Many people continue to pay for the plastic bag, as is evidenced by the fact that the levy took in €22.5 million in 2007.

The levy, introduced by the Minister then responsible for the environment, former Deputy Noel Dempsey, was progressive and widely welcomed. The Minister may look to extend the scope of the levy up to 70 cent over time, and the legislation would allow the Minister to act without coming back to the House. We could not stand over including this scope in the legislation because households are now being burdened extensively. The €100 household charge announced this afternoon, effective from next January, is further proof of that.

Although the householder or shopper should try, as much as possible, to move away from using the plastic bag, it is in some instances a necessity when there is no option to bring one's own bags or boxes to a store. We will press the amendment as we could only live with a levy with a ceiling of approximately 25 cent per plastic bag. The 70 cent ceiling leaves the possibility of hitting those vulnerable shoppers who are experiencing enough difficulty in purchasing necessary groceries on a weekly basis without having to pay additionally for plastic bags.

The current levy of 22 cent per bag is reaping rewards for the consumer but as I noted on Second Stage, the Government and the Department should look to an alternative to plastic bags in supermarkets. Perhaps work could be done with supermarkets on a national level to find an alternative, such as paper bags. Other choices could be more environmentally friendly, and recycled paper could be used for making paper bags. Such products are being rolled out in the United States, and I listened carefully to Senator Quinn's Second Stage contribution, who mentioned there is a levy on such bags in some parts of the United States. We should examine the matter to make products more environmentally friendly. We will press the amendment to set the levy ceiling at 25 cent per bag.