The Government has delayed introducing a proposed cash levy on plastic shopping bags to avoid clashing with the changeover to the euro.
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The Minister for the Environment Mr Dempsey signed the regulations into law today. He said the 15 cents levy (11.8 pence) on each plastic bag used by retailers would now come into force on March 4th, 2002.
The tax is being implemented on environmental grounds.
"The primary purpose of this levy is not to generate revenue, but to change consumer behaviour," Mr Dempsey said. "And I want to see a significant reduction in the use of plastic shopping bags and a subsequent reduction in the number of bags that end up as litter."
He confirmed the move had not run up against objections from the European Commission.
The levy will apply at points of sale in supermarkets, shops, service stations and all retail outlets.
It is estimated the levy could net the Exchequer as much as £100 million a year, based on current bag usage, although the numbers used are expected to slump as a result of the charge.
Current estimates are that 1.2 billion plastic shopping bags are provided free to consumers each year - which equates to 325 per person annually.