Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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21. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the work that is underway to develop a circular economy strategy in key sectors. [45050/22]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I fully recognise the need for a transition away from the traditional “take-make-waste” linear waste model to a model that eliminates waste in the first place and moves to a restorative and regenerative model. The nature of the concept requires that waste does not exist and that everything is transformed into a resource that can be utilised.

With high energy prices and increases in the cost of living, it is more important than ever that we continue to encourage businesses to reduce their resource use and to look for ways to move away from fossil-fuel dependence.

Since the Deputy last asked me about the circular economy back in May, the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 has been signed into law. It requires the development of a Circular Economy Strategy, and a series of sectoral targets, setting out the relevant national policy, objectives and priorities in relation to the circular economy. I understand that the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications has begun preliminary work on the Strategy, with a view to seeking Government approval during 2023.

In related work, the Deputy will be aware that in March of this year, the Commission set out its proposal for an Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. Council negotiations are ongoing and my Department is undertaking consultations to inform the national position. Ireland is seeking to ensure an ambitious common EU approach to product sustainability in order to maximise the market's power to influence product design and manufactures.

We are continuing to promote the Climate Toolkit 4 Business and to use it to highlight training and other resources available to business in the areas of waste, materials use and circularity. In addition, work is continuing with the cement sector and other stakeholders in the context of Climate Action Plans 2019 and 2021 to increase the use of Solid Recovered Fuels (or ‘waste’ fuel) in that sector.