Peadar Clohessy
Question:14 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for the Environment the changes, if any, he proposes to make in the Litter Act to make the law more effective. [7652/95]
Written Answers. - Litter Problem.
Robert Molloy
Question:30 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for the Environment if he will consider setting up a Cleaner Ireland Task Force with a view to giving the country a facelift in preparing for the millennium. [5060/95]
Ivor Callely
Question:82 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment the measures, if any, he intends to take to address litter problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5138/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 30 and 82 together.
I have already made it clear that I regard litter as a persistent and visible environmental problem and intend to co-ordinate a sustained and effective action programme to deal with it. To support this major anti-litter initiative, I have already created a new unit in my Department. I will be announcing specific measures in the coming months.
The key objectives of the anti-litter initiative will be: to focus and maintain public attention on litter as an urgent environmental problem; to step up enforcement of existing legislation on litter; to develop improved systems, including revised legislation; for control of litter, and to develop a continuous series of anti-litter measures over the next two years, on a widely participative basis, consistent with the principle of shared responsibility for the environment.
I envisage that a full review of existing litter legislation will form part of this broadly-based programme. I will be seeking support and participation by a wide range of sectoral groups, as well as local authorities, and other public bodies. I intend to set up a representative group drawn from these to assist my Department in driving the programme.