OPPOSITION deputies gave a qualified welcome to the Litter Bill. It was introduced by the Minister of State for the Environment, Ms Liz McManus, who said it would put in place a wide-ranging legislative charter for action against litter.
Among its provisions was a new obligation on occupiers of property in speed limit areas to keep footpaths outside their premises free of litter. Local authorities would be obliged to keep roads free of litter "as far as practicable". Where properties were persistently littered local authorities would be empowered to clean them and recover the cost from occupiers of property.
Mr Noel Dempsey, Fianna Fail spokesman on the environment, said he would not oppose the Bill but without provision for enforcement it was no more than "a wish list". The Bill might as well "have been addressed to Santa Claus in the North Pole as to Dail Eireann".
Litter cost £25 million a year to clean up. Fianna Fail would bring forward a comprehensive package of measures to tackle the problem at source by placing the primary emphasis on prevention and making the polluter pay.
Ms Mairin Quill (PD, Cork North Central) said the Bill was comprehensive but its success would depend on enforcement. The Minister should put a Cleaner Ireland task force in place and introduce a "green flag" scheme through the schools which would provide litter-free zones and an energy conservation policy.