Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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12. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if consideration can be given to the companies that produce the paper cups (details supplied) that he wants to impose levies on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26902/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022 (‘the Bill’) aims to support Ireland’s transition to a circular economy by providing the necessary legislative basis for several key measures including the Circular Economy Strategy; the Circular Economy Programme; the National Food Loss Prevention Roadmap; and the Circular Economy Fund.  The Bill will also provide for the power to introduce environmental levies on certain single-use disposable items, including single-use disposable cups, containers and packaging, and to prohibit their placing on the market where a suitable re-usable alternative is, or could be made, readily available. These levies will work in a similar way to the plastic bag levy, which has been so successful in tackling plastic bag litter,  and  all proceeds will be ringfenced in a Circular Economy Fund to support environmental projects and initiatives. These new environmental levies will be introduced incrementally, with the initial focus on the introduction of levies on single-use disposable hot drinks cups later this year.