Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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122. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of applicants that have applied to his Department under the farm film plastic recovery scheme since 1997, under the applicable regulatory framework in Ireland; the process involved in advertising the scheme; the process used to approve the body to legally operate a farm plastics recovery scheme; the reason that the Department has not sought to have competition within the sector; the steps his Department has taken to develop multiple farm plastics recovery organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24066/24]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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123. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason his Department has not established an independent regulatory mechanism to regulate the farm film plastic sector in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24067/24]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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124. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment how the approved operator of a farm plastics recovery scheme is funded; the precise process for setting the associated plastics levy and collection charges at the point of collection; the exact legislative provisions to allow for the relevant financial charges to be set; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24068/24]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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125. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide an overview of the operational procedure and required documentation by his Department prior to granting approval to an organisation that operates a farm plastics recovery scheme in Ireland, citing the relevant legislative provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24070/24]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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126. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he plans to make changes to the legislation pertaining to the farm plastics Regulations, which were originally introduced in 1997 and later revised in 2001 and amended in 2017, in light of exclusivity, monopolistic practices and anti-competition concerns surrounding the current process, no independent appeals or sanction agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24071/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 to 126, inclusive, together.

Irish Farm Film Producers Group (IFFPG) is a not-for-profit company established by producers of farm plastics to collectively discharge their legal responsibilities in respect of the products they place on the market. Under the Waste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations, 2001, any organisation may apply to the Minister for approval to operate the extended producer responsibility scheme.

My Department has not received an application for approval to operate the scheme from any organisation other than IFFPG. However, it is open to any organisation to make such an application, once it submits an application that accords with the requirements of the Regulations.