Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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175. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to advocate for the Global Plastics Treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46603/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The OECD predicts that plastic pollution is likely to triple by 2060 if left unchecked. This poses a serious risk to human health and the environment.

A delegation from Ireland attended the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, INC5.2, which took place from the 5th - 15th August, with the aim of developing an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.

Following nearly two weeks of negotiations, the meeting was suspended without agreement. The process is not over and will resume at a yet to be determined future date.

Ireland actively participated in the INC process as a member of the EU. The objective of the INC was to secure an impactful and meaningful treaty covering the entire lifecycle of plastic as mandated by UNEA resolution 5/14.

Ireland continues to be a strong and active supporter of the INC process and its aim. Ireland views the multilateral system as the only viable route to addressing the triple planetary crisis, which poses an existential threat to the global community and will participate in the next round of talks (INC5.3).