Madam, - Minister for the Environment John Gormley is to be congratulated for increasing fines for littering by 20 per cent. An increase in enforcement might, however, be more effective.
The Minister could also consider banning the sale of
filter-tipped cigarettes. These were introduced to protect smokers
from their own folly but smokers have metaphorically flicked the
ash back in the face of the public through the vast additional
litter created by the casual discarding of such cigarettes. -
Yours, etc,
JOHN FAGAN,
Seafield Road,
Killiney,
Co Dublin.
Madam, - Minister Gormley's increase of the on-the-spot littering fine is a hollow gesture given that fewer than half of such fines are actually paid.
Rather than increasing the fine, perhaps he could increase vigilance around one of the main litter black spots - bus stops. Ten minutes spent at most bus stops in Dublin would produce astounding results for any litter warden.
I recently waited at a 46A stop in Stillorgan and saw cigarette
butts flicked to the ground, fast-food cartons discarded and
plastic bottles tossed aside, all in the space of a few minutes. -
Yours, etc,
ADAM TRODD,
Stillorgan,
Co Dublin.