Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 229: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, further to Parliamentary Question No. 211 of 31 May 2011 and No. 283 of 7 June 2011, his views on an amendment to the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2009 to enable the publication of those convicted of litter offences; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in the case of tax defaulters, specific provision was made in the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 to allow the publication of the names of such defaulters instead of a more general amendment of the Data Protection Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21637/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I am examining means to improve Ireland's response to the problem of littering and "naming and shaming" will be one of the aspects I will be considering. However, a new specific provision to amend the Litter Pollution Acts to enable the publication of those convicted of litter offences would require the necessary consultative procedures associated with primary legislation. Furthermore, great care would have to be taken to ensure that any such provision would not be in breach of the principles of data protection.