Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

151. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the additional green charges being proposed by him; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that indirect taxes have disproportionate effects on those least able to pay. [52232/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have not proposed the introduction of any “green charges”.

At the Waste Summit on 28 November 2013, I launched a number of important policy developments for the waste area in line with commitments set out in Government’s national waste policy, A Resource Opportunity - Waste Management Policy in Ireland. I announced public consultation processes on two further chapters from the ongoing and wide-ranging review of the existing producer responsibility initiatives (PRIs) in Ireland. The new chapters relate to end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) and waste tyres and make important recommendations to improve existing compliance schemes for both waste streams.

At the Summit, I also announced a public consultation process on the regulation of our household waste collection system. This process is intended to facilitate a dialogue with the public and key stakeholders including representatives from the waste industry, statutory bodies such as local authorities, the EPA, the National Transfrontier Shipment Office, environmental NGOs and the public. My aim is to use the 8-week consultation process to inform the development of a regulatory regime that will resolve shortcomings in the existing regulatory regime, including:

- low rates of householder participation in some areas;

- insufficient levels of prevention and reuse of waste;

- insufficient levels of segregation of household waste; and

- pricing issues.