Environment Minister rolls over again

national | miscellaneous | news report Wednesday January 25, 2006 11:14 by Gumshoe

but can you follow his logic?

A week after an Irish Times report revealed that he reversed national waste policy after private meetings with a wannabe incineration operator, Environment Minister hands a second success to industry lobbyists.

Minister for the Environment Dick Roche has agreed to industry demands to drop the idea of a chewing gum levy. The levy had been proposed to help cover the gum clean up costs falling on Local Authorities. Explaining his decision the Minister said he had made a deal with manufacturers, including Wrigleys, that they would instead contribute to a public awareness campaign, and fund 'research'.

Seeming to challenge the currently accepted laws of physics the Minister added:

"If you put a 100% levy on chewing gum you might actually stop some people chewing but you wouldn't stop them spitting it out on the streets," Mr Roche said.