The Environment Minister Phil Hogan is putting laws in place to allow for the plastic bag levy be increased to up to 70 cent.

But Mr Hogan said he is not planning to increase the current 22 cent tax for now.

He has told the Seanad that currently the levy can only be increased as a result of inflation, but he wants to change that.

Minister Hogan said: "This limit is designed to allow for increase to the levy for a number of years.

"Section 12 also provides the mechanism by which the levy rate can be increased".

"Section 12 will allow the application of the Consumer Price Index and a discretionary application of not greater than 10 percent in any 1 year - provided that the absolute ceiling of 70 cent is not exceeded," he added.