Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the idea of having an annual review and reports of progress. I am proposing that the report on the progress in relation to the circular economy would be integrated with the climate action reporting, which is done through the Department of the Taoiseach, as well as the Minister of State's Department, so it creates an obligation and an expectation that other Ministers will be stepping up to the plate in terms of their role. I believe this would be a very useful addition because one of the things that distinguishes the climate action plan that we put in place originally, and which is also reflected in the new plan, is that by having oversight from the office of the Taoiseach we would, as they say in America, "bite with the President's teeth". We would get greater traction in being able to see that Ministers and senior officials take their responsibilities seriously. I strongly advocate that the Minister of State would consider integrating it because it is the Minister of State's own Department. The two tracks are parallel. It would not be a big addition and would bring the circular economy more centre stage in the way that people think about their work. I believe it would be a very good move.