Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. McCarthy and his officials for coming in this afternoon. Is Mr. McCarthy satisfied that there is sufficient interdepartmental connection? It has come across to us from others who have come in to help us with our work that there should be a whole-of-government and a whole-of-society approach. If we are to do that and if we are to be meaningful about it, there needs to be greater engagement across Departments. Perhaps the particular committee could be accountable to the Department of the Taoiseach. What are the views of Mr. McCarthy on that?

Met Éireann is under the remit of the Department. There is a strong view that Met Éireann could play a better role in communicating the need for explaining what is happening with climate change. It is a missed opportunity to reach the citizen. What are the barriers to Met Éireann doing that, if any?

Does the Department have responsibility for food waste? Is that gone from the Department now?