Madam, - Is the tax on chewing-gum supposed to act as deterrent to people littering? If people pay more for chewing-gum will it make them stop spitting used gum on the streets? No. It will simply make people pay more for chewing gum. Those who buy gum will continue to do so. Responsible people will dispose of it in the proper way and litter louts will continue to throw it on the ground.
High tax on cigarettes does not stop people dropping butts on the ground. High tax on drink does not stop people vomiting on our streets. Why, then, would a tax on chewing-gum stop people from throwing it on the ground? What will Mr Cullen do with the tax revenue - clean up the chewing-gum? Well ,since there has been little or no attempt to clean up the vomit and cigarette butts, why should we expect him to clean up the gum? Will the Minister then introduce a rubbish tax on crisps, sweets, newspapers, etc? It is the Minister who needs to clean up his act. - Yours, etc.,
TOM NEVILLE, (Fine Gael, Dublin Central), Dublin 4.