Caít Keane (Fine Gael)

I agree with much of what the Minister of State said, but it entirely missed the point of what I am trying to achieve. To clarify, I am totally in favour of the plastic bag levy. The Minister of State's main point was that it would be impossible to distinguish between a biodegradable and a non-degradable bag. That is like saying it is impossible to ascertain how much lead is in diesel. All I am asking is that legislation be introduced to allow for the inclusion of a symbol - a red triangle, for example - on plastic bags that are degradable in 12 weeks. I am fully supportive of the retention of the levy on biodegradable bags because there is plastic in them. However, new technologies have been developed which have vastly improved the timeframe for biodegradability. The inclusion of a symbol such as a red triangle would inform consumers of this. In the longer term these are the only plastic bags which should be permitted to be sold. It has been done in Italy and there is no reason it cannot be done here.