Important that waste legislation isn’t left to lie idle
EARLIER this month, Seanad Éireann passed Sinn Fein’s ‘Ban on Dumping New Products Bill’ at Second Stage – the bill would introduce a ban on the dumping/incineration of new goods by corporations; a shocking practice that perpetuates waste, exacerbates environmental degradation and deepens social inequalities.
In the fashion and electronics industries especially, we witness countless perfectly usable products being needlessly destroyed in order to maximise profit. With the proliferation of online shopping, this problem has reached alarming levels. Returned items, often in pristine condition, are recklessly discarded instead of being resold.
Some luxury brands have been documented destroying goods to maintain exclusivity rather than see them be resold in charity shops.
The Sinn Féin legislation, drafted by Senator Lynn Boylan, would ban the practice of dumping unused goods and force companies to redistribute excess stock to charities and people who need them.
In a cost-of-living crisis, when people are going without necessities, dumping or incinerating electronics, hygiene products and household items instead of giving them to people who need them is, quite frankly, morally bankrupt.
For too long, the government and corporations have tried to put the blame for our environmental catastrophe squarely on the shoulders of individuals as consumers. In contrast, this bill highlights Sinn Féin’s commitment to a different approach, that puts blame where it lies – on corporations who put profit over planet. Our bill addresses the root causes of waste, which is overproduction, and challenges the prevailing notion of limitless growth at the expense of our environment.
It requires strong government leadership to stand up to corporate interests who benefit from the status quo. While I was disappointed that only one government senator took part in the debate, I am glad that Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party did not oppose our bill and it passed this initial stage of the legislative process. In relation to the environmental and the climate catastrophe facing us, we all know that time is of the essence.
We cannot afford to wait. France, who have recently introduced a similar ban, have shown that governments can act on banning this shocking practice.
As we approach the summer recess, it is of vital importance that the government does not allow this legislation to lie idle, they must prioritise it and ensure that time is set aside for it to make its passage through the Oireachtas early in the new term - we cannot afford to wait.
SENATOR NIALL Ó DONNGHAILE
Sinn Féin Seanad Group Leader
Mr Feeney makes telling case for return of British plunder
Brian Feeney – ‘Doing the right thing on colonial plunder’ (July 5) – makes a very telling case for the return of thousands of items stolen from other countries during the imperialist British drive to conquer other lands. In a way, one wonders why such a case needs to be made. Stolen goods should be returned from the thief to its source. The British have and do reject this approach, indeed have enacted a parliamentary act to prevent such happening.
This, I believe, reveals the continuing mindset of the British that the acquisition of territory, exploitation of that territory for its resources, material or human, was ‘fair game’. Indeed some British historians today point to the benefits of this policy. Imperial rule, they opine, did bring ‘order’ to ‘education’.
The evidence of this ‘beneficent’ rule is felt in India, Jamaica, Ireland, Egypt, Palestine, Kenya and Malaga. The plunder and rape of these countries is in stark contrast to that vein.
The retention of these stolen items has to be met by the one riposte that the ‘sun never set on the British empire – and the blood never dried’.
MANUS McDAID
Derry City
DUP bankrupt in its political thinking
Having read an excellent article in The Irish News on the introduction of NHS to Northern Ireland in 1947, I was struck by the following thought: Was there ever a unionist politician who acted or introduced legislation which was in the interest of the general populace and not just in the interest of the ruling elite? It is a well known fact that they never acted in the interest of a substantial part of the population, namely Catholics. However, in their actions they also acted against the Protestant community – mostly the working class, not the professional or business classes. In their exuberance to keep in place ‘a Protestant state for a Protestant people’ they managed to hurt the very people who voted for them. While trying to block the ‘cradle to grave’ NHS 75 years ago, to prevent any benefit the Catholic community - especially those with large families - they deprived their own supporters. The behaviour of the DUP more recently, over Brexit and the Windsor Framework, is producing the same result – everyone suffers. Even trying to fan the embers of the Drumcree affair after 25 years and raising daft motions calling for recognition of an illegal and dangerous bonfire shows how bankrupt their political thinking is, when stirring up sectarian strife around this time of year is their only contribution to the political debate.
PETER McEVOY
Newry, Co Down
Councils still pandering to loyalist demands
There are times when you just have to shake your head in despair at the stupidity and ignorance of politicians on both sides of the border.
Just hours after the Irish tricolour and an effigy of Leo Varadkar were burned on a loyalist bonfire, we had a TD from the Republic calling for the Twelfth to be a public holiday. It is appalling to see sections of the media cover this hate fest as some form of entertainment. These bonfire bigots are the same hate mongers who next day march down our streets wearing Orange sashes and band uniforms trying to portray a family day out.
We then had the gall of Jeffrey Donaldson – not asking but demanding – that respect be given to Orange culture. While we have local councils pandering to every loyalist demand, then nothing will change. This vile sectarianism will continue year after year.
J DIAMOND
Coleraine, Co Derry
Impending catastrophe
The soaring temperatures across Europe presently are a stark reminder of how our Earth is unable to cope with the massive changes taking place. Untold numbers are suffering and dying.
Our politicians are tinkering around the edges of an impending catastrophe.
Why are they not bringing radical change now?
PAUL DORAN
Dublin 22
