Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

My Department published the general scheme of the circular economy Bill 2021 on 15 June last. It is my intention under this Bill to facilitate not only the use of CCTV but the use of a broad range of audiovisual recording, AVR, equipment to assist local authorities in their efforts to combat litter and illegal dumping. Drafting of the Bill is well advanced and the final report of the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action was published on 16 December last. The Bill will be published in quarter 1 this year and enacted as soon as possible thereafter.

A combination of legislation and guidance will help to ensure that the processing of personal data obtained through the use of CCTV and AVR equipment may be carried out by local authorities tasked with enforcing litter and waste legislation thus providing an important deterrent to protect our environment from the scourge of illegal dumping while, at the same time, respecting the privacy rights of citizens.

I have seen in my constituency, as I am sure is the case in the Deputy's area of Galway city and county, that even where CCTV cameras are available very often the evidence cannot be used and prosecutions cannot be pursued. It is a real problem not just in regard to the issue of waste management but, I imagine, in a wide variety of different policing issues. We have to strike the right balance between the rights to privacy and how data is used, shared or stored. We cannot allow flagrant breaches of public environment, waste management and other rules to continue and a situation where there is no mechanism for local authorities to enforce that. The circular economy Bill presents an opportunity to address that issue. I am confident it will get the support of the Dáil. We will then have to put it into practice.

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