Seanad debates

Wednesday, 17 January 2018

2:30 pm

Photo of Catherine NooneCatherine Noone (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to follow up on Senator Horkan's point about plastics. He made some very valid points about waste and the disposal thereof. There is a fundamental issue in the use of plastics and we have to try to move away from using plastic to the extent that we do, as a world. The waters of the world are becoming oestrogenised because of the amount of oestrogen in plastic. This will be a serious issue down the road. It is more than a waste issue it is a fundamental issue. Young Fine Gael, YFG, launched an idea for plastic coffee cups. Many outlets now allow customers use reusable cups. YFG has suggested imposing a levy on plastic cups like the levy Fianna Fáil introduced on plastic bags. Ours has become a much more disposable society. That is a good idea and should be followed up.

I thank Senator Craughwell for supporting me on social media and again here. Sad to say, one gets used to the abuse. I mute people and do not see it and do not give them the satisfaction of blocking them because they want to be able to say that I blocked them. I just ignore them for the most part. We have to learn to ignore it rather than constantly try to fight it. Sometimes people will not agree with me or do not like what I represent. That is life. It is a difficult part of the job. The Senator's comments are valid. The mute button, however, is one for everyone to consider. It was Senator Richmond who pointed it out to me because I was not aware of it. One does not have to block them because much of the time they want that.

I agree with Senator Devine about the digital commissioner. I too would like to know the story because it has come up often. As far as I know there was strong support for that from Government. I would be very supportive of having a digital commissioner. I am not sure the Leader would know about that today but I encourage us to have a debate on it and if possible a debate soon on the environmental area, in respect of the previous issue I raised.

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