Madam, - The Minister for the Environment, Martin Cullen, spoke again at the Fianna Fáil conference of his intention to bring in a tax on all ATM receipts to curb litter. Why is there a need to charge all, innocent and polluter alike, while existing legislation is left unused? The litterer can be identified by the number of his/her bank account which is printed on the offending piece of litter. As the account holder is the only one with the PIN number to obtain the receipt, there is a clear paper trail to the litterer.
Why are current anti-litter laws not used to inflict a fine on the offender? The catch-phrase of the policy is that the polluter pays. A few minutes spend near any ATM machine would quickly produce evidence of many offenders. And the polluters, not those who are diligent in respecting the litter laws, would be the ones to pay. - Yours, etc.,
ENDA LYNCH,
Kingsland Park Avenue,
Dublin 8.