Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 4, to delete lines 8 to 11 and substitute the following: “ “plastic” means a synthetic polymer that can be moulded, extruded or physically manipulated into different shapes;”.

The amendment proposes to delete lines 8 to 11 and insertion a definition of plastic as being "a synthetic polymer that can be moulded, extruded or physically manipulated into different shapes". In some of the amendments, we are identifying potential loopholes or concerns. It is to be hoped that such loopholes would be captured during review, but we wish to flag them now. We wish to remove the text, which suggests that a material is plastic when it "retains its final manufactured shape when used for the purpose for which it was manufactured" as we are concerned that this could be used as a loophole. Certain plastics may be eroded or otherwise manipulated such that there is no clarity on its final manufactured shape when used for the purpose for which it was manufactured. We are concerned that certain products could avoid being defined as plastics if they do not retain their final manufactured shape when used for the purpose for which they were manufactured. This could leave loopholes and arguments could be made regarding certain products the shape of which may be malleable, as is recognised in the preceding subsection, which refers to synthetic polymers which can be "moulded, extruded or physically manipulated". Substances that retain malleability could be excluded from the definition of "plastics". We are trying to identify loopholes. I ask the Minister to reassure us in that regard.