A debate in the European Parliament on the packaging of waste proved the unlikely occasion for a clash between DUP MEP, Jim Allister and Sinn Fein representative, de Brun.

Speaking during a debate in the European Parliament on Strasbourg on a proposal to allow the 10 Accession countries several extra years to comply with the European Packaging of Waste Directive, DUP MEP, Jim Allister, used the opportunity to highlight the severe imposition which regulations, made in Northern Ireland under this Directive, have imposed on small and medium size businesses in Ulster.

Mr Allister spoke immediately after a contribution by Barbara de Brun.  In her speech, which commenced and concluded in Irish (which the President pointed out would not be translated) Ms de Brun made a fundamental factual error when she declared that the same provisions on the packaging of waste applied on both sides of the Irish border.  This is utterly wrong since the Republic has a derogation from full implementation of the Packaging of Waste Directive till the beginning of 2012, whereas Northern Ireland is already subject to its full rigour.

In speaking immediately after Ms de Brun, Mr Allister chided her for being so ill informed and declared, "Perhaps if she'd focused more on getting her facts right rather than speaking in a language which no one can or wants to understand, she would not have made such a fundamental mistake". 

During his speech Mr Allister said, "In noting the delay in the implementation of the Packaging Waste Directive afforded to the accession states, I wish to say, from the experience in Northern Ireland, that they are fortunate to be escaping its requirements for several years.

Under this Directive, draconian regulations have been made in Northern Ireland.  We now have the ludicrous requirement that a DIY retailer, for example, who buys in packaged goods and sells on packaged goods is required to make returns detailing the net weight of packaging on all such goods passing through his business, even though he never opens or discards any of the packaging.  He is then liable to what amounts to a waste tax for merely handling the goods and in addition has all the wasted time and effort in trying to assess the weight of the packaging involved.

I am therefore glad for the accession states that they are being spared this lunacy.

I note that the Republic of Ireland, though a long established EU member, has also been permitted to delay full compliance till 2012.  Sadly, the UK Government did not seek equal derogation and so we are beset with foolish regulation such as I've described."