Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Amendment No. 8 seeks to insert “and anaerobic digestion shall form part of said strategy,”. Yes, the bioeconomy is a really important part of the circular economy. Deputy O'Sullivan pointed out that the cost of fertiliser has tripled. As we all know, the cost of electricity and gas has gone up also. One can see that this type of economy is now essential and something that we need to do. It is undeveloped in Ireland compared to other countries. When we consider that anaerobic digestion has been going on for many years in Germany, for example, we really have a great opportunity. Rather than being hard on ourselves for the past, we can say that for the future we do have a great opportunity here.

It is not just about anaerobic digestion; it is also aerobic digestion and composting. I met recently with the Composting and Aerobic Digestion Association of Ireland, Cré, which the committee may have come across. They made clear to me that their problem was lack of feed stock, but they feel there is a lot they could do. In short, I think we need to bring this in. I intend to bring forward an amendment on Report Stage to introduce a new reference to anaerobic digestion and other technologies, and the national bioeconomy policy statement. My officials have been working with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on this. They will have something ready for the next Stage. I am aware that this is a big issue also in Deputy Farrell's constituency, obviously, with a lot of fruit and vegetables grown in that area.

Amendment No. 9 relates to voluntary sectoral compacts and public procurement. I would need a definition of what a "circular compact" is. It is quite a phrase. This amendment needs more work on the wording. I am in favour of the amendment's approach and I am in favour of the idea of using sectoral compacts to enhance circularity, but I want to bring it to Report Stage. I want to discuss it with the Office of the Attorney General first, just to make sure that I get the drafting right.

Deputy Bruton's anecdote about the purchase of the embassy was great.

Public procurement is my responsibility. I think the Deputy said that a reply to a parliamentary question showed a low rate of green public procurement. I presume that dates back to before my time. We have been working really hard on this. The programme for Government says that we are to are green all of our public procurement frameworks where possible. In other words, we are to change the rules about how we purchase each sectoral product type in order to do it in a green way. We are more than 85% of the way there on that work. We are to do it within three years. We are certainly going to make that target. The next time the data are collected, they will be much more favourable. The Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, has done much work on this. It has updated the guidelines on green public procurement for the first time in many years. I have asked the Office of Government Procurement to change its training systems so that it can train the purchasing officers in how to buy in a green way. The right way to do this is not always obvious. We have looked at international best practice. We have worked with the EPA. We got consultancy advice on it and so on. It is an ongoing process. As all frameworks are done now, they will be done in a green way where this is possible and where there is any option for being green. For example, if we were to buy legal services, could we do that in a green way? I am not so sure that we could. However, other areas are much more amenable towards green public procurement. While I am not accepting that amendment, I will try to bring forward an amendment that will work on Report Stage.

Amendment No. 10, in the name of Deputy Whitmore, is about consultation and poverty-proofing of the strategy. Certainly, stakeholder groups in poverty, disadvantage and disability will be invited to join the Department’s formal circular economy stakeholder group. I will make sure of that. Amendment No. 10 would require further extensive discussion with the Office of the Attorney General. I think it would also require amendments to other sections of the Bill in the form of additional definitions. However, I agree that we need to have inclusiveness and poverty-proofing of national policies. This is not just because it is the right and moral thing to do, but also because it makes it more effective, more reasonable, and acceptable to the public. If the Deputy is amenable, my officials will engage directly with her with a view to developing a form of wording that would be suitable for me to bring forward as an amendment on this issue on Report Stage.

I would like to thank Deputy Whitmore for amendment No. 11. I will be accepting it. We have to make sure any changes that we are making in public policy do not disadvantage people because of their abilities.

Amendment No. 12 relates to the biodiversity strategy. Deputy Bruton is withdrawing that, because it is already included in amendment No. 11, which I am accepting.