Retailer Brown Thomas have defended their decision to charge 60 cent for paper bags in their stores.  The charge, introduced last week, applies to the instantly recognisable Brown Thomas grey and white bags and Arnott's blue branded carriers and applies irrespective of the size of the bag a customer is given.  They say that all profits from the sale of paper carrier bags will be used to support Crann – Trees for Ireland with the aim of planting 100,000 trees in Ireland over the next 10 years.  

What do you think about being charged for using a paper bag?  

People carrying a Brown Thomas bag in Dublin city centre | Image: RollingNews.ie