Sir, - I was truly surprised to read Kevin Myers's piece on the proposed tax on plastic bags (An Irishman's Diary, June 23rd). Mr Myers and two of your letter writers on the same day have taken the wrong end of the stick.
This is the best proposal Mr Dempsey has introduced since taking office and he ought to be congratulated.
The whole idea behind making the consumer directly responsible for the tax is to dissuade the public from taking the bags. The measure therefore should have no impact on inflation. If the retailer were made liable for the tax he would factor it in to his costs and the effect would indeed be inflationary.
Plastic bags are not necessities. There are alternatives. People do not need a bag to wrap an apple. Supermarket shoppers can and are bringing re-usable bags.
Now, Minister, how about a refund system for plastic bottles and cans? - Yours, etc.,
Daniel J. Hanley, Brownstown Park, Brownstown, Navan, Co. Meath.