Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State and I appreciate what he has done. I do not want to take away from the laudability of the idea behind this scheme but I want to ask three questions. Did the public consultation substantially raise the issues I have raised? I am sure others have raised these issues, particularly the discrepancy between hot and cold drinks, and I respectfully do not think it is enough to say that the cold drink levy will come in due course. Why is it not coming now? Why are we pitching one type of business against another?

Can the Minister of State at least confirm that he accepts this will hit businesses? It is not always feasible for people to have a keep cup or to avail of a reusable cup. Has the Minister of State given proper consideration to the fact we could put in place a system where there are only compostable cups that can be properly recycled? I realise recycling is not the solution and I recognise the huge numbers he is talking about. I do not have a difficulty with that but there are other ways to skin this cat and I wonder if we could do it in a way that does not hit businesses to quite the same extent.