The Labour Party has condemned the Government's u-turn on plans to introduce taxes on chewing gum, fast-food wrappers and ATM receipts.
Environment Minister Dick Roche confirmed this morning that the plan was being shelved to allow the companies involved to come up with alternative proposals for tackling litter problems caused by their products.
Labour TD Eamon Gilmore said an initiative such as a consumer levy was needed in order to change the behaviour of litter louts.
"There has to be a range of measures which have the double effect of changing behaviour and of also contributing to the cost to the public purse of cleaning up after these people," he said.