Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 February 2007
95 Mr. Moloney asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many off-licences and take away food premises are not correctly operating the plastic bag levy; if he proposes to ensure that local authorities enforce the law in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7490/07]
View answerIt is important that the plastic bag regulations should be rigorously enforced. I recognise the need to ensure that the efforts and commitment of the vast majority of retailers are not undermined by the non-compliance of a few. Therefore, my Department has written to local authorities asking them to carry out inspections of retail outlets with a view to improving current practices in relation to the implementation of the Plastic Bag Levy Regulations. An enforcement network of local authority officers has been established to monitor and co-ordinate the enforcement drive.
The relevant enforcement officers have extensive powers to enter any retail premises, to conduct any searches or investigations considered necessary, and to inspect or remove any records, books and documents for the purposes of any proceedings in relation to the levy.
All complaints received in my Department concerning non-compliance are forwarded to the relevant local authority and the Revenue Commissioners. The operation of the levy is also subject to the normal Revenue Commissioner auditing arrangements.
Where information in relation to possible non-compliance arises, this should be notified to the relevant local authority. Alternatively the Deputy may wish to notify my Department who will forward any information supplied to the relevant authorities.
Deputies will be aware of my decision this week to raise the plastic bag levy to 22 cent under new Regulations which take effect from 1 July. There has been no increase in the levy since its inception and I am anxious to ensure that its impact is not diminished. Income from the levy has been increasing in the recent past and data from levies remitted and population estimates provided by the Central Statistics Office would indicate that plastic bag usage rose from the initial rate of 21 bags per capita following introduction of the levy in 2002 to 30 currently.
I am increasing the levy to the maximum of 22 cent allowable under the existing legislation. I believe that it will have the desired effect in stemming the pattern of increased usage of plastic bags that has been evident.
