THE Minister for the Environment, Mr Howlin, talked rubbish with journalists and members of the public on a littered Grafton Street yesterday when promoting the Government's new anti litter advertising drive.
"One comment foreign visitors make when they visit Ireland on the noticeable amounts of litter on our streets," he said. "Irish people have a great sense of environmental awareness on many issues but we have a blind spot when it comes to discarded litter.
"The problem is not unique to the Irish but is more prevalent here," Mr Howlin said.
To highlight the need for a strong anti litter campaign, the Department of the Environment asked Dublin Corporation not to clean Grafton Street over the weekend to show the full effects of discarded litter. As the Minister walked down the street yesterday he pointed to the results.
"Dublin Corporation did not create this mess," he said. "People don't see litter and they don't relate it to their own actions. Certain people see nothing wrong with litter and, as you can see, we need to change their attitudes."
Television and radio advertisements depicting scenes of well known beauty spots covered with rubbish will be broadcast as part of the new drive. A poster campaign aimed at encouraging people to dispose of litter properly will also feature on billboards throughout the State.
Educational school packs are being distributed to national and secondary schools.
"Most people know it is wrong to drop litter but they make a number of excuses to justify it to themselves," the Minister said. "We are passionate about our football, our Gaelic games and any achievements on the international sports arena therefore, we should be passionate about our country.
Mr Howlin said studies had shown litter was having a negative effect on the tourism industry and on the economy in general. "Many businessmen who travel to Ireland are turned off when they see discarded litter on the streets. Research has shown that businessmen who travel here with a view to setting up businesses have been turned off when they saw litter strewn about the streets.
"Litter is a major disincentive to business and is the cause of major negative impact on our economy," Mr Howlin said.
Cleaning up discarded litter costs the State an estimated £20 million a year.
The Minister also announced he was now finalising a new Litter Bill empowering local authorities to impose litter requirements on fast food outlets and on the organisers of large festival events.