Published: Fri, 14 September 2018
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Leader of the Fine Gael delegation in the European Parliament, Seán Kelly, hosted a public meeting today on Ending Plastic Waste in Lawlors’ Hotel, Dungarvan.
As the EPP Group negotiator in the European Parliament’s Fisheries Committee on the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive, the Ireland-South MEP welcomed the opportunity to discuss this issue with constituents and stakeholders:
“In the EU alone, around 26 million tonnes of plastic waste is generated every year, and less than 30% of this is recycled. This means that every year 18 million tonnes of plastic is not being recycled, with around 70% going into landfill or incineration, or worse, into our seas, onto our beaches, damaging our whole environment. This is not acceptable,” said Mr. Kelly speaking from Waterford today.
“At the centre of my work in Brussels currently is the Single Use Plastics Directive, which aims to put restrictions on plastics that produce unnecessary and avoidable waste. This proposal is a very important step, and in Parliament on Wednesday night, I urged my colleagues not to water down the proposed measures.”
“I am very grateful to be in Waterford today to exchange with members of the public on this topic, and I sincerely appreciate the contributions made by the excellent speakers. They brought a wealth of knowledge, experience and varied perspective to the discussion this morning.”
The event was opened by Cllr. Declan Doocey, Mayor of Waterford. Expert speakers included Senator Grace O’Sullivan and representatives from Glanbia, Down 2 Earth Materials, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella also gave an address via teleconference.
