Gormley chews over tax on gum
ENVIRONMENT Minister John Gormley is considering the introduction of a chewing gum tax after complaints that awareness campaigns have been a "total waste of time".
The previous Government backed down on plans for a tax to help pay for street clean-up costs after lobbying by American chewing gum manufacturers.
But Mr Gormley has indicated that a chewing gum tax is now on the table again after the expiry of a three-year voluntary agreement with the manufacturers.
Levy
"All options, including the possible introduction of a levy on chewing gum or a further negotiated agreement, will be examined," he said.
Cleaning chewing gum off the streets has cost the authorities millions of euro in recent years. Dublin City Council alone spends more than €250,000 a year on gum removal.
It is understood that Mr Gormley believes the voluntary agreement did not prove to be very effective and is still in favour of the chewing gum tax he promised shortly after taking office in 2007.
The Irish Business Against Litter group said the 2006-2009 voluntary agreement, which saw chewing gum manufactures pay around €6m in total for awareness raising campaigns, had been a "total waste of time".
"You could be forever campaigning and it makes no appreciable difference," its chairman Dr Tom Cavanagh said.
- Michael Brennan Political Correspondent
