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THE GREEN PARTY’S Eamon Ryan caused consternation in the Dáil this afternoon when he unveiled a bag of his plastic household waste to the chamber.
Calling on the government to do more to tackle waste, Ryan showed off all the plastic waste he had accumulated from his cupboards in the last week.
The display did not go down too well with the Leas Ceann Comhairle, Pat the Cope Gallagher, who rang the bell, urging him to stop displaying his rubbish.
“We are in the House of Parliament on national television,” said the Leas Ceann Comhairle.
As Ryan began listing off all the types of plastics he had in his bag, Gallagher told him that advertisements were not allowed in the chamber.
“I would ask you to remove that from your desk, there must be dignity in the House… normally you act in a dignified fashion, I would urge you to act in that way,” he said.
“We are drowning in plastics,” replied Ryan.
He said more needs to be done to make it easy for people to recycle.
We have to cut out the waste, it is not easy, but it takes attention.
He asked the Taoiseach would the government support the Green Party’s waste reduction bill, which proposes a new set of measures aimed at improving how Ireland recycles its waste.
It aims to give cash back for those that recycle plastics, as well as ban plastic coffee cups which he said are not recyclable.
He suggested that a deposit scheme on plastic bottles would increase recycling rates.
It is understood that the department have investigated if such a scheme that operates in other countries, like the US, would work in Ireland.
However, it’s believed that plastic recycling rates would not increase substantially and the administrative costs of setting up and operating a new scheme would be greater that the rewards.
Minister Denis Naughten is also understood to have held discussions with the main coffee shop retailers in a bid to tackle the issue of non-recycable disposable coffee cups.
Varadkar told the Dáil that they would consider the bill when it comes to the floor of the House.
He also pointed out that Naughten is proposing to place large-scale recycling facilities outside supermarkets so that people can recycle before they bring their goods home, as was reported by TheJournal.ie this week.
The Taoiseach said he wants to make it “easier for people to do the right thing or do the right choices” which is why there will be an increase in the roll-out of brown recycling bins to households. r.
Ryan said that 150 million tonnes of plastic ends up in the sea, stating that more needs to be done.
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what’s the problem ….Mick Wallace is allowed into the Dáil looking like something that was dragged out of a bin every day.
@Brian Kennedy:
Well, you could recycle the rubbish but there’s nothing you can do with Wallace
@Duncan: in all fairness to Wallace his contribution is worth that of about twenty toe-the-line backbenchers who have to check with the leader of their party before they’ll decide if they’ll have milk in their tea. He brought forward all the stuff about NAMA, the penalty points, Garda corruption and their disgraceful treatment of whistleblowers. The man is a national gem and I say that as someone who was initially cynical about the cut of him. One mans casually dressed TD is another mans freedom fighter.
@Sean: I respect all that you have said. I believe it is a shame however to be dressed as he does in the Dail in sleeveless or shaggy t shirts
@Duncan: Gaol for fraud springs to mind. Wasn’t he convicted for appropriating VAT or some form of Tax? Never paid it back, did, he? Laughing at us all day, every day. A great little country and Mick is one of those who put the C*#t into it.
@Sean: a national tramp or pretend tramp with his corporate box visit to Old Trafford
@Sean: a ‘national gem’ who believes he shouldnt pay VAT/Tax like us mere mortals. What a joke.
Nothing to worry about folks! Eamon Ryan will introduce a plastic tax and that will solve the problem.
@John Campbell: when the Greens are mentioned anywhere on the same breath increase taxes are their motto.
@Liam O Connor: yawn. So predictable
@Gavin Daly: not so you, being a member of the green party.
Worked in Germany, buy a create of beer €4 or €5 back when you return the empties, plastic bottles were different rates per size of bottles, I used to get €10 or €12 back with a few shopping bags full of empties each week, Eamon.
@Johnr: Yep, that’s what his bill wants to intriduce, if I’m understanding it correctly.
Sad how so many commenters here play the man and attack Ryan or the Greens and ignore the message – I don’t care who introduces it but a money-back scheme for all plastic containers surely has to make sense and clean up the place.
@Johnr: that wooden work here u wood be taxed as extra income
@Fozz: Ahh but Dunny Naughten doesn’t want it as it will cost too much he says
@John Scott: You’re some plank
@Johnr: yeah we had that here also donkeys years ago. We got rid of that scheme about the same time we were selling off all the land that later had to be bought back for the LUAS.
The 10c debate is a no brainer. Go to any soccer or GAA pitch in the country and you’ll see plastic bottle discarded everywhere. That’s to say nothing of the streets and parks. Imagine a scenario where every one was worth 10c. Kids on summer holidays, homeless people and those who cast a blind eye today will be collecting them and cleaning up our country and helping the environment if this simple measure was put in place. Should be done immediately.
@Mark Stanley: remember when we were kids doing that with glass bottles.
@Mark Stanley: So true, you see it in the Beaumont and Whitehall area after every kids match. Bottles everywhere and the pitches left littered with all manner of rubbish. I cannot understand how the adults at these matches think it’s ok to leave their kids crap behind them. How about they set an example by cleaning up and ensuring their kids learn some social responsibility by teaching them it’s not acceptable to just throw things on the ground and walk away. Or are they just filthy at home as well? Ellenfield Park is left disgracefully as are the pitches down at Plunkett College.
@Barbara Edwards: Yup, drop the bottles in to Walsh’s Supermarket, collect 3d on each one, go around the back, collect more of them for return tomorrow. That was true recycling!
Eamon ryan. ??? I thought you were retired 7 years ago with the rest of your bunch and associates . Where were u hiding? Good luck to ya .. leave the pitch please.
Another stunt by the desperate attention seeking lefties.
@P C: Since when were the Greens lefties?
They are not lefties.
They are commies.
@George Salter:
@P C: The Greens who supported a FF government and helped heap austerity on the people of Ireland are now left wing?
You’re not too savvy at the aul politics are you, PC?
@Cram Wood: That’s even dafter than lefties. I assume you’re being humorous?
@Kieran Mc Donnell: Eamon Ryan was the fella who reduced the car tax to encourage everyone to buy new cars and then put it back up again
@Gary O’Brien: the Greens are left wing, as the advocate heavy intervention in running of the economy by a government rather than leaving it to free market forces. Google it if you wish. Doh!
@Kieran Mc Donnell: Accomplices, please! The way they behaved was criminal.
Kind of ironic that the Lord of the greens has so much plastic waste! I’m no greenie and I wouldn’t have that much plastic in a month! He needs to walk the talk!
The dublin food co op do a no waste market where you can weight food in canvass bags and that home with you to reduce waste. He should shop there and maybe produce a bill to reduce waste ?
@Kevin Higgins: The Dublin Food CoOp is 204 Km from me ,not really an option for me, can you imagine the carbon footprint
@John Kennedy: I am sure there are businesses in your area that offer a similar service.
@prop joe: specifically referring to Dublin bay south based TD Eamon ryan who should be a short stroll away. As the end of the comment reads he should put forward a motion or bill to legislate for this
@John Kennedy: I go there regularly, walk the walk, collect my stuff, usually on Monday, back in Cork, on foot, by Thursday. Drop off the stuff, eat it, make me lunch, sleep over, back on the road early Friday morning. Save a fortune on petrol. Get to see the country too. Use the ‘Slí na Sláinte’ walkways mostly. It’s a little monotonous buti t gets me out of the house. Thinking of moving to Kildare.
@prop joe: No.
Thanks to Leo & his pals in the water disposal game – fly tipping will increase substantially along with waste collection costs. I don’t have any time for the Greens but he is right – we are drowning in plastic and our minority govt doesn’t have any ideas other than screwing the householder yet again. FGafail – rotten ba$tards.
Ryan and greens = more taxes
@Willy Malone: even without ryan …………… greens=more taxes
His stunt worked even the journal picked up the story.
Ah the Greens. They are probably regretting recycling their spines and brains
@Irreverent Reverend: could we not change the rules on pensions?
Give him a pension on the undertaking that he f(Uks off never to be heard from again
@john g mcgrath: Did the greens not stay in power just long enough last time to endure thru got their pension?
@Carina Clarke: No. We were in government twice as long as that. And it never was a reason for staying in government.
“There must be dignity in the House “,Oh yeah we’ll be a long time waiting for that to happen
With regard to the new bin charges, have 3 in nappies, 60Kg+ bin every 2 weeks so I’m fcck ed.
@Johnr: Repeal the 8th
@Johnr: Go cloth
Frankly punitive costs on waste should be introduced with some minor costs on recycling.
If the last few years are anything to go by Irish people only care about the bottom line when it comes to the environment.
How come someone so ‘green’ buys so much plastic.
@Bob Murray: Isn’t that point, how difficult it is to avoid packaging?
Government stepping in, if they see anything iffy…. don’t look in the mirror whatever you do! Wouldn’t trust this government as far as i could throw a crisp packet!
People should be mindfull of the amount of packaging they take with their shopping, like bananas on a styrofoam tray with cling film over, very handy but sure the bananas have their own packaging, more seriously though, plastic is a scourge and if this is
@Colm Molloy: …what it takes to draw attention to the subject, fair play
Buy local, scrap packaging
Dlow you beat me to it!!!
In fairness he has a valid argument. Unless we do something and yes similar to plastic bag tax
we will be eating more plastic than fish.
Yesterday I got my to go salad in a paper box.
Why not for everything
Ryan the attention seeking prat was along with Fianna Fail responsible for much misery. Does he really think the people have forgotten his incompetence while in office. RUBBISH just about sums up everything about the man!
@Paul Mc: some have they voted him back in. We are a very forgiving , forgetful electorate. Watch F/Fail this next time.
The Greens to me equals extra taxes, they supported erecting wind turbines in the flattest 3 counties in Ireland 185 metres high beside peoples homes .They were in government and failed ,green party cant be recycled into the incinerator with them
Can’t recycle plastic where I live. It all has to go in the black bin. If there is one thing we should be recycling, it’s plastic.
@Jane Alford: If there’s one thing we shouldn’t be using, it’s plastic. A lot of plastic can’t be recycled only upcycled, made into new products like jackets.
Another tax!!!!!! Cause more people to fly tip because can’t afford cost to recycle
These fools don’t know the meaning of “dignity” Most show nothing but contempt for the position they’ve been elected to. Hope he cleaned up his mess or has he left it someone else?
Ryan has a point though…you can’t do a weeks of food shopping with filling up the bin with heaps of plastic wrapping and shite!
Rubbish in the Dail !? I Remember when the Greens were Rubbish in Government.
The greens… greatest bunch of phucking eejits ever put in charge of anything. They made every pre-88 car in the country worthless.
@John Considine: what about the night of the infamous bank guarantee?.they couldn’t get John Gormley out of bed.
That’s just trash talk
Tom Barry and aine collins…http://www.thejournal.ie/tom-barry-pulls-aine-collins-into-his-lap-987972-Jul2013/
Cheap pubic stunt by weirdo Eamon Ryan……
He should be given a role in government eamon Ryan minster for coming up with ideas for taxes….. Idiot
@Pie O ‘ My: that’s what the Dail bar is for I reckon, beer mat are cheap stationery!
@Johnnie Sexton: I wish I could drink in work
Couldn’t have brought it to a more appropriate place!!
Couldn’t have brought it to a more appropriate place\1
Fair play Leo you spoke more there truthfully and meaningfully the enda did in all his time in charge
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