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Dept of Environment should clarify position on Plastic Bag Levy

On the launch of the strageic plan for the Green Party last Sunday, new spokespersons were assigned for different policy areas. Congratulations to local Carlow Kilkenny members Cllr Malcolm Noonan on speaking on our behalf on Environment, Community and Local Government and to Rian Coulter for his new role as spokesperson for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

First press release from Malcolm Noonan below

Following the ruling of Justice John Hedigan in the High Court today in relation to Dunnes Stores challenging the interpretation of the Plastic Bag Levy, Green Party Environment Spokesperson, Cllr Malcolm Noonan has called on the Minister for the Environment and his Department to clarify the position on the levy as it would appear that there is widespread flouting of the legislation in shops and supermarkets around the country. The Green Party contends that this potentially represents significant uncollected revenue for the Environment Fund, the fund established for Community Waste Reduction and Agenda 21 initiatives. 

 
Dunnes challenged ambiguity within the regulations in order to attempt to avoid paying €36.5m in charges due to Revenue and ultimately the Environment Fund. Cllr Noonan said that the ruling by Justice Hedigan could have widespread implications for the retailing sector and that a possible solution could lie in amendments to the legislation that would not see the levy imposed on non point of sale bags that were biodegradable. 
 
‘While welcoming any judgement that leads to a reduction of plastics and toxins in the environment, I do think that clarification is required and that the legislation was heralded worldwide as a progressive and an unusually popular tax, to the point that other Countries are replicating it. However if the industry were to begin to design out plastic at least for non point of sale use, then we would further progress this legislation to reflect the High Court ruling’ he said. 
 
‘There are many vegetable and plant based alternatives to oil based plastics and many of them perform just as well, only that they are biodegradable and can be inserted directly into organic ‘Brown Bin’ kerbside collections when the service is rolled out nationwide. What is required now is a life-cycle approach to waste and in particular packaging waste and the Minister has an opportunity to do this under current reviews of National Waste Legislation, it can only be of benefit to both consumers and the environment’ concluded Cllr Noonan.
 
Cllr Malcolm Noonan
 
Green Party Spokesperson
 
Environment, Community and Local Government
 
086 839 9418
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Fantastic concert to celebrate 30th year of Green Party and new strategy launched

Local Carlow Kilkenny Green members and friends enjoyed a fabulous concert last Sunday to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Green Party.

Great pic from 30th bash in Vicars St last night. Thank you to all the wonderful musicians, organisers, we hope everyone had a great night!

It was also the launch of The Green Party Strategic Plan 2012-16 and new greenparty.ie national website

For 30 years the Green Party has worked towards a fairer, sustainable future for the island of Ireland and the global community.

The Green Party strategic plan sets how we will develop our organisation over the next five years. Its aim is to allow a new generation take up an active role in political life and through that work improve the quality of life of all our people.

All Green Party policy is currently being reviewed although the first new policy to be adopted by the National Council on the 30th year celebrations, was the new all Ireland Forestry policy, presented by local Carlow Kilkenny member Cathy Fitzgerald (it is also the last few weeks of the international year of the forest so this policy is well timed in its efforts to set out practical steps for a new vision ecologically and economically sustainable and biodiverse forests for Ireland). New policy will be available on the national site in coming weeks.

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