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

I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important question. In total, the European Union releases about 200,000 tonnes of plastics into the oceans. There is a serious problem throughout the Union which has decided in principle that it will introduce a ban on the use of single use plastics which will I hope become enforceable early in the new year. Obviously, the directive has to be finalised, but it will give us the potential to introduce similar bans. On microbeads, as the Deputy knows, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, has the approval of the Government to introduce a Bill which it is hoped which will be passed before the end of the year. On a wider front, we are seeking to dramatically increase our recovery and recycling of plastics and reduce the use of packaging. We will publish targets to deliver these outcomes.

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