Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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30. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the current status of the working group established to examine national end-of-waste applications backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42527/21]

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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I am very conscious of the importance of the End of Waste in the transition to a more circular economy, in particular in relation to the construction sector.  The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economywhich was launched by Minister Ryan in September 2020, has a dedicated chapter on End of Waste, and commits to a number of measures including to the establishment of a working group to develop national end-of-waste applications for identified priority waste streams.This working group has now been established with the first meeting taking place in March 2021. My officials, in conjunction with the members of the working group, are currently considering what waste streams should be prioritised for the first national end-of-waste applications.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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31. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he plans to establish on a statutory footing a just transition commission with a remit that covers all relevant sectors and areas across Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44124/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Government appointed Mr Kieran Mulvey as Just Transition Commissioner in November 2019 to facilitate discussions and work with stakeholders to develop, mobilise and deliver opportunities for the Midlands for both the workers directly affected and the wider community. The Commissioner is undertaking his work with administrative support provided by my Department. The Commissioner is also being supported in his engagements with stakeholders in the Midlands, as required, by the Secretariat to the Midlands Regional Transition Team. 

The Commissioner, through his three progress reports, has made a number of recommendations to help achieve a just transition in the Midlands. These recommendations have been taken forward through a number of strands, including the Just Transition Fund call for proposals, the Bord na Móna Enhanced Peatlands Rehabilitation Scheme, and the re-configuration of the Midlands Regional Transition Team.

It has been agreed that the Just Transition Commissioner’s work will reach its natural conclusion at the end of 2021. By this time the Government’s just transition response in the Midlands will have been well advanced with the finalisation of the Territorial Just Transition Plan, the publication of the Climate Action Plan 2021, and the Just Transition Fund projects under implementation.

Although the Commissioner’s mandate expires at the end of 2021, this would not prevent me or indeed any other Minister of the Government from taking a similar approach in future should the circumstances warrant it in a given sector or region.

The forthcoming Climate Action Plan 2021 will set out specific commitments on just transition, including elaborating key principles, which the design and implementation of our climate action policies should follow. This approach will seek to fully integrate a just transition approach into the overall architecture of our climate policy provided by the new Climate Act, rather than establishing a stand-alone statutory commission.