23 March 2001

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Environment Minister accused of `pursuing a plastic policy' over 15p shopping bag tax

Sinn Fein has accused Environment Minister Noel Dempsey of punishing shoppers by proposing a 15p charge on plastic carrier bags.

Sinn Fein's Environment spokesperson, Councillor Arthur Morgan, said:

``The Environment Minister is punishing shoppers for the supermarkets' and producers' failure to offer them alternatives such as paper bags which can be recycled or are bio-degradable

``Noel Dempsey is pursuing a plastic policy - he is perpetuating plastic pollution.''

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