Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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106. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the Minister that has responsibility for the environment. [14904/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Environmental functions constitute a significant proportion of my Department's area of responsibility, and include those in relation to climate action, waste and resource efficiency, sustainable development, and air quality, as well as the governance and oversight of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Other Government Departments also have responsibility for what could be broadly classified as "environmental functions". For example, the Department of Housing, Planning and Heritage will have responsibility for water quality, marine spatial planning and biodiversity issues.

The Programme for Government provides for the establishment of a Cabinet Committee on Environment and Climate Change which will consider all of Government environmental and biodiversity issues.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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107. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the Minister that has responsibility for waste management. [15069/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, my role with regard to waste management is to provide a comprehensive legislative and waste policy framework through which the relevant environmental regulatory bodies, including local authorities and the Environmental Protection Agency, operate.

In this context I will soon be bringing forward an ambitious new waste policy which will include a range of measures to reform and strengthen how we manage our waste with a greater focus on prevention through product design and consumer choice.