Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I congratulate him and the Department on the efforts they have made in recent years, not only in getting the circular economy Act across the line nearly two years ago but also in the subsequent plans and strategies that have emerged, which are very significant and are a credit to their dedication to this issue. People of my age and older will agree the level of visible waste on our streets and in our countryside has been greatly reduced in recent years and decades, although I accept that is not the full picture when it comes to the circular economy. In acknowledging the Minister of State's work, I acknowledge the work of previous Governments as well. We have been moving in the right direction and our colleague Deputy Bruton certainly played a role as Minister for the environment. We have to go in the right direction, given this is such an important area for all kinds of reasons, not least the environmental one.

There has been some very good news about the hot school meals programme and there was an article in today's edition of The Irish Times about it. It is broadly welcomed and it is a very positive development. It does not relate to the Minister of State's Department but it does relate to a significant one, namely, the Department of Education. There are going to be vast benefits for children and, ultimately, for society with the roll-out of the scheme, but there is a concern the criteria are not tight enough such that we may generate unnecessary food and packaging waste with that, and those concerns were alluded to in The Irish Times article this morning. What is in the strategies, plans and constraints the circular economy Act puts on the Government to ensure there will be that tightening of the criteria such that we will not generate more food and packaging waste?

My second question relates to disposable vapes. They are a scourge on our environment, and they are prevalent. What is in the strategies to ensure there will be an end to disposable vapes? They are not a positive development of recent years for many reasons but I think there is power, under the circular economy Act, to address that challenge.