Dáil debates

Wednesday, 1 June 2022

Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages

 

5:52 pm

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

I move amendment No. 5:

In page 8, between lines 4 and 5, to insert the following:
“ “National Biodiversity Action Plan” means the National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017-2021 published by the Government on 5 October 2017 or any document published by the Government which amends or replaces that plan;”.

We are introducing this series of amendments to take into account the views of the Members across the Oireachtas Select Committee on Environment and Climate Action on Committee Stage. We committed to consider the issues raised around a consultation on the strategy, and these amendments arise as a result of that consideration.

Amendments were also accepted on Committee Stage from Deputy Whitmore, adding the national biodiversity action plan, the national disability inclusion strategy and the roadmap for social inclusion, which I mentioned earlier as an example of how this Bill is being amended.

Amendments Nos. 5, 6 and 8 are consequential amendments and provide for definitions of these documents in section 6. Amendment No. 6 inserts the national biodiversity action plan into the list of documents that must be taken into account in the drafting of the strategy. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked for that on Committee Stage and I thank him for raising the issue. We are fully committed to the greater delivery of anaerobic digestion across all sectors and this amendment will help this to play a part in our future economy. Amendment No. 7 is a consequential amendment that provides for the definition of the national biodiversity action plan in section 6.

Amendment No. 10 arises out of contributions by Deputy Whitmore on Committee Stage, which were further examined in advance of Report Stage. It places a mandatory obligation on the Minister to consult bodies representing "economically or socially disadvantaged persons or persons who have a disability" in relation to the proposed circular economy strategy. It also places a statutory obligation on the Minister to ensure a poverty impact assessment has been carried out by the Minister in the context of the strategy. This is a very important addition. It ensures communities will be fully considered during the drafting of the circular economy strategy. It gives effect to the objectives of the amendments introduced by Deputy Whitmore on Committee Stage, having been through the legislative wringer to make sure the drafting office is happy they integrate into the Bill. I thank Deputy Whitmore for her contribution in this regard, which has strengthened the Bill again.

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