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

Very quickly, I am interested to know if the targets for the different sectors have been developed yet. It will be interesting. Specifically, are targets being set for the volume of waste generated? It is worrying that those numbers continue to go up. Will the Department be setting targets for reuse? I think the rate of reuse the Europe reports on Ireland now is something like 1.8%. The best performers have rates like 15%. We really have not cracked this issue of getting waste material back into the supply chain, for all the reasons the Minister of State has outlined.

This issue came up before another committee, where people in the consumer fast drinks market, including cups of coffee and so on, were claiming that recovering paper was more climate-friendly than having cups that were going to be washed. That sector was arguing against the levy on the grounds that it would promote many people having cheap plastic cups not be subject to the levy but which would not be used sufficiently or rewashed and the net outcome would be worse than was hoped for. I think that sector had some economist to write a report and the point was made regarding having to reuse such a cup 20 times before there was a return, and the question was asked concerning whether this scheme was robust. I would be interested to hear the comments from the Minister of State on whether these issues have been resolved.

Turning to a point I think the Minister of State did not have a chance to deal with, is dovetailing the circular economy, which embraces biodiversity loss, waste management and design, with the climate challenge not a better way for us to go? I refer to pulling all these things together under one Government strategy overseen from the Taoiseach's office, which could, as they say, bite with the president's teeth when someone is not complying with expectations or the enforcement system is not working up to standard. The strategy would not be left to isolated bodies to try to paddle their own canoes but would be overseen from central Government level.