Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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656. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to a Topical Issue on the matter, his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the waste tyre industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36339/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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On 10 June 2015, my Department met with the Deputy and Deputy Patrick O’Donovan, along with representatives from the Irish Tyre Wholesalers and Retailers Association (ITWRA), to discuss the development of new producer responsibility arrangements for waste tyres. My Department had a further meeting with representatives of the ITWRA on 24 June, and a number of further contacts were made by my Department over the course of the Summer. However, I understand that the ITWRA has now withdrawn from further discussions – either as part of the Tyres Working Group or through the informal channel maintained by my Department even after the ITWRA withdrew from that working group - and has announced plans to launch a legal challenge against the planned introduction of a producer responsibility initiative for waste tyres.

Nonetheless, the door remains open to the ITWRA to return to discussions. My Department has repeatedly invited the ITWRA to re-engage with the Tyres Working Group and actively assist in the design of proper arrangements for dealing with waste tyres, in line with the producer responsibility model and the polluter pays principle. It is a matter for the ITWRA as to whether to accept that invitation.