Seán Haughey
Ceist:240 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will give details of measures announced in June 1998 to combat litter pollution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23046/98]
Written Answers. - Litter Pollution.
On the 8 June 1998, I announced a series of measures as part of an anti-litter programme to support strengthened local authority action against litter. Details of those measures are set out in the reply to Questions Nos. 17 and 61 of 11 June 1998.
Seán Haughey
Ceist:241 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to introduce a new litter pollution bill with particular reference to plastic bags, cans, packaging, fast food outlets, retail shops, offlicences and bars, illegal advertising, event management, shop fronts, illegal dumping, the role of hotels and guesthouses, the role of the public sector, the problem of litter on roads and enforcement generally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23047/98]
The Litter Pollution Act, 1997, which came into operation on 1 July 1997, provides a comprehensive legislative framework to deal with the problem of litter pollution. The Act deals specifically with many of the issues raised by the Deputy.
As indicated in the reply to Questions Nos. 49 and 305 of 13 October 1998, under the 1997 Act, the primary management and enforcement responses to the litter problem must come from local authorities. Statistical returns made to my Department by local authorities for the first six months of this year clearly indicate that local authorities have intensified enforcement of the legislation — the relevant data are in the Oireachtas Library.
My Department recently appointed consultants to carry out a study of the use of plastic bags and their impact on the environment. The study which is scheduled for completion next month, will include the identification and evaluation of possible measures to minimise the use of such bags. I will give immediate consideration to the findings and recommendations of the consultant's report.