Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications for their significant work on this Bill. It is a core tenet of the programme for Government and an extremely important Bill in the path to decarbonising our economy and ensuring we have a liveable planet in the future.

There are some very significant and important steps on which the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action, of which I am a member, has done significant work. It has been a real pleasure to work with colleagues of all parties and none on that committee to try, where we can, to improve legislation that is brought forward by the Department. I note with appreciation the change that is being implemented through this Bill to the use by local authorities of CCTV to attempt to cut down on fly tipping, which is a stain on our communities, particularly in our beautiful rural areas.

One issue that has grabbed a lot of attention of late is the so-called latte levy or the charge on disposable cups and containers. Will the Minister of State clarify whether that applies to biodegradable cups? Many retailers have gone to great efforts to ensure their cups are biodegradable and I am not sure if it is the intent of the Government-----

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