Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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599. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to introduce measures to deal with the large volumes of packaging resulting from persons purchasing goods online from producers and retailers that fall outside of a scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54088/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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Repak is the approved producer responsibility compliance scheme for packaging in Ireland and is tasked with meeting recovery and recycling targets established under the EU Packaging Directive (94/62/EC). This Directive is transposed by the European Union (Packaging) Regulations 2014. In accordance with these regulations any producer placing packaging on the Irish market is obliged to ensure that their waste packaging is recovered in a prescribed manner. 

Membership of Repak ensures that regulatory obligations in relation to the treatment of waste packaging are fulfilled. 

The Packaging Directive does not afford Member States the power to exercise control over distance sellers who place packaging on the market in Ireland from outside the country. However, amendments to the Packaging and Waste Framework Directives are being negotiated at EU level at the moment and Ireland has argued for controls on distance sellers to be introduced.

Amendments to our national packaging legislation will be necessary on foot of amendments to the Packaging Directive. At that point all stakeholders will be consulted, including on possible models for dealing with distance sellers if the relevant powers are given to Member States.