Seanad debates

Wednesday, 23 November 2016

Micro-plastic and Micro-bead Pollution Prevention Bill 2016: Second Stage

 

10:30 am

Photo of Lynn RuaneLynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am dismayed and genuinely angry at the amendment the Government has tabled in the Seanad today. This Bill banning micro-beads is a small but important one. I was very much looking forward to debating it today and seeing it progress to Committee Stage. That the Government has now moved to block this Bill is grossly unfair and is a clear effort to silence debate on this important environmental issue. I do not think it would be possible for any Senator to argue that micro-beads are not an environmental disaster. These micro-plastics are a very damaging example of plastic waste and have a very detrimental effect on our marine environment. If Ireland truly wishes to project a green image internationally it is clear that banning them from cosmetic and other products should be a high priority.If we are all in agreement that micro-beads and plastics are objectively negative and harmful, how can the Government justify an effort not to ban them? Its reference to Articles 34 and 35 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union does not stand up as a justification for not allowing the Bill to pass Second Stage. As a number of EU countries have already banned or are in the process of banning these damaging plastics, it is nonsense to say we must await EU-wide measures. If we all agree that micro-plastics are bad and that EU rules do not pose an insurmountable barrier to the progression of the legislation, how can the Government justify its amendment?

The Bill was introduced in the Seanad on 26 October and the Government has had almost one month in which to raise concerns about it. Even when Senator Grace O'Sullivan indicated to the Bills Office and the Leader's office that this legislation would be taken in the Private Members' time of the Civil Engagement group, we still heard no objections. It is particularly unfair and unacceptable that we received notification at 5.30 p.m. yesterday, less than 24 hours before the Bill was due to be debated. In the Civil Engagement group we take what we table during Private Members' time very seriously. We strongly consider the best possible issue to feature in consultation with our civil society partners. Our contributions in this Seanad have involved some of the most worthy actions taken by the House since my election, including Senator Alice Mary Higgins's motion on the CETA and Senator John Dolan's motion on disability rights and housing.

It is incredibly unfair that one of our few chances to choose what we debate in this Hose has effectively been taken from us. It is obvious that the Government is preventing progression of the Bill owing to the recent publication of a very similar Bill by Fianna Fáil. It is clear that the Government is allowing political expediency to trump its commitment to protect the environment. We are allowing a good Bill to get caught up with who gets credit for passing legislation.

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