The Irish Government has been called to implement a deposit refund scheme on drinks containers.

The Green Party made the call after the UK Government approved the plans.

The Party called for the Government to support its Waste Reduction Bill 2017, which is currently at Committee Stage in the Oireachtas.

Party Leader Eamon Ryan TD said: "We warmly welcome the announcement from the British Government that a bottle deposit scheme is to be rolled out. It is vitally important that we reduce the levels of plastic waste ending up in the environment, and move towards a more sustainable, circular economy. We also commend the work of our colleagues in the Green Party of England and Wales for keeping plastic waste high on the agenda.

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"We're now calling on the Government to get behind our Waste Reduction Bill, which will introduce a similar scheme here in Ireland. The Bill passed second stage in the Dáil last July, and we want to see it pass through committee stage as soon as possible. If the UK can introduce a deposit return scheme, there is no reason why we can't do the same. All we need is the political will from Government to see this common sense Bill enacted."

(CD/LM)