MINISTERS Darragh O’Brien and Alan Dillon, we are writing in light of the European Commission’s infringement proceedings regarding Ireland’s incomplete transposition of the 2019 Single Use Plastics Directive (EU 2019/904).

These proceedings reflect long standing concerns raised by VOICE about the State’s failure to implement key elements of the Directive.

Despite high ambition and commitments for the time period of 2020 to 2025 as set out in the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy (2020), the vast majority of the plans to tackle single use plastics have not yet been realised by mid 2026.

VOICE has publicly and repeatedly raised concerns over the failure to introduce the promised latte levy, the absence of any national consumption reduction targets or measures for single use plastic cups or food containers, the lack of producer responsibility for awareness raising and litter clean up, delays in establishing extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes,  and lack of progress on reuse systems and separate collection.

These gaps undermine Ireland’s ability to meet its own circular economy commitments and create uncertainty for producers, retailers, and local authorities.

We urge the Government to complete the full transposition of the Single-Use Plastics Directive, introduce the levy on single-use cups, and align implementation timelines with the ambitions set out in the Waste Action Plan and the National Waste Management Plan.

Taking these steps would resolve the infringement proceedings and demonstrate Ireland’s commitment to reducing plastic pollution and supporting a circular economy in advance of our upcoming Presidency of the European Council.

This is particularly important given that the Circular Economy Act will be published by the Commission during Ireland’s Presidency.

VOICE Ireland would welcome the opportunity to meet with you and your officials at the earliest convenience to discuss how Ireland can not only resolve this infringement but emerge as a leader in the implementation of circular economy principles.

Tad Kirakowski,

CEO of Voice of Irish Concern for the Environment (VOICE)

Government needs to get tough on single-use plastics.

Lack of CCTV for key towns is truly shocking

EDITOR – I couldn’t believe your article in last week’s edition about the ongoing CCTV saga in our towns. Your Freedom of Information request showed that a hit-and-run incident in Dunmanway was not captured in 2024 because the cameras were out of order.

This is shocking enough. But even more shocking is that  only seven of 18 cameras in Dunmanway were working at all at one point.

Even though the gardaí urged the council to repair the system, it took months. For nearly a year now the CCTV cameras in Clonakilty, Dunmanway, and Skibbereen have been switched off. The system lies dormant and is no use in recording and fighting any kind of crime.

I know that there is a growing concern from many people about data protection and intrusion. We do not want the gardaí tracking our every move - but having no cameras at all isn’t the answer. Cork County Council and gardaí need to move things forward and agree a solution.

Preferably a solution that takes the community’s concerns into account. It’s called a community based CCTV scheme after all.

Mark Sheridan,

Bandon.

Menu needs a Curry Chip with Stuffing

EDITOR - As a ‘blow-in’ who has happily traded the city lights for the rugged beauty of West Cork, I’ve found almost everything here to be superior - the air, the community, and certainly the produce. However, I must highlight a culinary void that haunts my Friday nights: the inexplicable absence of stuffing in our local chippers.

In other corners of the country, a ‘Curry Chip with Stuffing’ is considered a blue-chip delicacy. The herb-heavy, savoury crumb provides the perfect structural integrity to soak up a rich curry sauce, creating a salty-sweet harmony that a plain chip simply cannot achieve alone.

While I’ve embraced the local dialect and finally learned how to reverse a car down a boreen, I cannot reconcile with a chipper menu that stops at cheese and garlic. Surely, in a region famed for its gourmet credentials, we can find room in the kitchen for a bit of sage and onion stuffing?

Is there a chip shop from Bandon to Bantry brave enough to bridge this gap for us displaced blow-ins? Our palates - and our hearts - are waiting.

A Hungry Blow-In,

Leap.

Time to think of others

Giving to Charity

It would be nice if we all gave something back,

More preferably to all those who do lack.

Like the homeless, the hungry, the depressed and the bereaved,

When their situations are fully understood,

it will all be believed.

It matters not if the amount is too big or too small,

It will make a real difference to them all.

If a single currency from each person was got.

A massive amount would always help a lot.

Like a dollar from every Canadian you see,

Perhaps one Yuan Renminbi from every Chinese.

Please dig deep into your pockets so that we,

Can get as much as we can for charity.

Remember that we’re serving the needs of others,

Like some young children and young mothers.

Liam Gleeson, Nenagh, Co Tipperary.