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

I appreciate what is happening, but when we passed that circular economy Act it was enshrined that we would have the second circular economy strategy within six months. The Government has not activated that section, so as a result the six months did not start. That is a sleight of hand. In countries that have been successful in this field, they had voluntary compacts developed before the statutory obligations came in, particularly in the Netherlands where sectors came together. I put it to the Minister of State that today we hear about transport and how we are deviating, but if we looked at material use, reuse, repair, waste recovery and optimum market design in the transport sector - and had all the interests in the room - we would be in a different place. There would be more sharing, and we would push through some of the things holding us back. I urge the Minister of State, instead of a consultation, to get people doing things collectively and then bring in the obligations as quickly as they can be developed.

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