EPI, or Europlast as it was originally, has operated in Gweedore industrial estate since 1972. The original company was taken over in 1998 by an Italian company based in Milan and since then operates as EPI, Earraí Pacallaí Idirnáisiúnta Teoranta, engaged in the manufacture of low density patch handle bags and its custom base is almost exclusively the high street retailer, such as Brown Thomas, Kilkenny Woollen Mills and Aer Rianta. It produces 70 million bags per annum which is less than 6% of the annual usage of 1.2 billion bags in this country as estimated by the Department of the Environment and Local Government.
The present crisis in the company results from the Government's proposal to put a levy of 15 cent on each bag from 4 February 2002. I favour protecting the environment and we all know the devastation that can be inflicted by the discarding of cheap, low standard plastic bags throughout the country. When the Bill went through the Dáil, I spoke in support with the provision that high quality bags should be exempt.
EPI employs 23 people and is considered one of the best employers in terms of pay and conditions on the Údarás na Gaeltachta estate in Bunbeg. Many workers have been there since 1972 and will find it difficult, if not impossible, to find alternative employment, particularly in Donegal where the employment rates are consistently so high. If the factory closes, many of them may spend the rest of their working lives on the unemployed register. Many are the sole bread winners of their families and have financial, mortgage and educational responsibilities that will be impossible to meet if made redundant.
The vast majority of EPI's customers have already ceased to purchase its bags as they switch over to alternative paper bags. EPI, a manufacturer of high quality, reusable and 100% recyclable carrier bags, has received the last orders from its Irish customers and some of the workforce have been made redundant. The solution is to exempt these high quality bags from the levy. There is a precedent as high density, low quality carrier bags used by food stores are exempt. All major food retailers are currently ordering the new size carrier bag and as a consequence, one might say, the proposed levy will actually increase the use of the cheap, high density bag. This is the type that usually litters our countryside and probably the main reason for the introduction of the levy in the first place.
The Minister met the management, union and employees of EPI and knows at first hand the drastic consequences of closure. I urge him to adopt a sympathetic response to their plight. If an exemption is granted, there is no reason this Donegal Gaeltacht industry should not continue to prosper and increase its workforce.
Má chailltear suas le 25 phoist in EPI beidh sé ina bhuille crua do Ghaeltacht Dhún na nGall. Tionscal é seo atá bunaithe agus lonnaithe san eastát i nGaoth Dobhair le beagnach 30 bliana. Cuirtear fostaíocht den scoth ar fáil ann faoi choinníollacha oibre maithe agus tuarastail fhlaithiúla. Má chailleann na hoibrithe seo a gcuid postanna, cuid acu ansin ó bunaíodh an tionscal 30 bliana ó shin, beidh sé thar a bheith deacair orthu fostaíocht eile a fháil sa cheantar. Sé an fáth go bhfuil an tionscal i mbaol ná go mbeidh cáin ar mhálaí plaisteacha ón 4ú lá de mhí Feabhra seo chugainn ar aghaidh. Aontaím go gcaithfear an timpeallacht a choimeád glan ach ní hiad na málaí den ard chaighdeán a chuireann EPI ar fáil atá ciontach. Is málaí de chaighdeán íseal a dhéanann an dramhaíl seo. Sílim go bhfuil fuascailt na ceiste i lámha an Aire agus eisceacht a dhéanamh den chineál mála atá á gcur ar fáil ag an tionscal seo.
