Roche signals hike in plastic bag levy this year
Mr Roche wants to increase the bag tax to 19c at least to halt the rising number of shoppers asking for carriers at the check-out.
The environmental tax, introduced in 2002, initially helped slash the number of bags being handed out by stores but rising numbers of carriers are now being used.
In its first full year, the 15c tax raised €12.7 million from sales of 83 million carriers. Last year, the figure was €17.5m from 117 million bags.
Now Mr Roche wants to hike the levy to the legal maximum of 19c and is prepared to ask the Oireachtas to give him the power to increase it still further.
A Department of Environment spokesman said: “The price rise is more of a deterrent (to stop shoppers asking for them). We have received comments from people saying that the 15c levy is too little.
“The minister has the power to rise it to 19c but there is the possibility of it going up by more so we would require a new regulation drawn up.”
Friends of the Earth (FoE) yesterday called on Mr Roche to double the tax to 30c as a way of deterring shoppers from asking for plastic carriers.
FoE director Oisín
Coghlan said: “We need to restore the original shock value that made people think twice about using plastic bags. The best way to do that is to double the tax to 30c.”
Progressive Democrats chairman Senator John Dardis also called on Mr Roche to double the tax.
“Plastic bag litter is disastrous for the environment and for tourism,” he said.
“Since 2002, the levy has cut the number of bags seen on streets, fields and hedges.
“But now the levy is not deterring some consumers from using plastic bags.”
