Fergus O'Dowd
Question:42. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Taoiseach his views on a day of commemoration for those that have lost their lives to Covid-19; and if there are plans within Departments to progress such proposals. [33712/21]
View answerCovid-19 Pandemic
Questions (42)
Written answers
COVID-19 has brought grief and loss to our lives in ways that most of us have not experienced in our lifetime. In the Governments Covid-19 Residence and Recovery 2021 The Path Ahead we acknowledged that it will be important as a people that we pause and reflect, take time to remember and pay tribute both to those who have lost their lives but also to everyone who has contributed to how we have faced and are facing the challenges together.
The plan also recognises that it would be important to capture those very different experiences and to figure out what we have learned about ourselves as a society. The National Library of Ireland captures the lived experience of Ireland as it happens so it can then be shared with the world. A major focus of the National Library’s collection in 2020/2021 has been around COVID-19.
A programme of national and local events will be developed to commemorate those we have lost, to celebrate all those who have helped us survive and endure, and ensure there is support from all those who feel alone or lost. It is not possible with the current restrictions to organise an appropriate national commemoration. When the time is right, there will be an opportunity for us nationally to remember those who died during this difficult time. The Protocol and Civic Policy Division in my Department are working with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media on the format for a national commemoration, which is still under consideration.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (43)
John Brady
Question:43. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if recent statements of support for the WTO waiver for Covid-19 vaccines and treatments by the leaders of Spain and France and resolutions by the European Parliament show that there is a growing global consensus in favour of this policy; his views on whether support for the WTO waiver is fully in line with Ireland’s policy values, specifically in the spirit of SDG target 3.b; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33647/21]
View answerWritten answers
Universal and equitable access to safe, effective and affordable diagnostics, treatments and vaccines is crucial in the global fight against COVID-19. The EU’s participation in the recent G7 discussions, where additional commitments on the provision of vaccines globally was agreed, bears witness to that.
International Trade is a competence of the EU under the Treaties. In exercising that competence at the World Trade Organisation or WTO, the European Commission engages with Member States, including Ireland, through a variety of Committee and Working Parties/Groups, including on intellectual property, or IP.
South Africa and India amended their original proposal for a waiver by broadening the scope; it now covers all COVID-19 related health products and technologies for prevention, treatment, and containment of the disease and provides that the waiver shall be in force for 3 years and that only the WTO General Council in a consensus decision could determine the date of termination of the waiver.
On the 4th of June, the EU submitted a proposal to the WTO General Council, which proposes that WTO Members could agree on a global trade initiative for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics encompassing the three components of (i) trade facilitation and disciplines on export restrictions; (ii) concrete actions to expand production and ensure supply of vaccines at affordable prices to low and middle income countries during the pandemic and (iii) clarification and facilitation of TRIPS Agreement flexibilities relating to compulsory licenses.
Production capacity is a key issue here and, again at the G7 earlier this month, the EU Commission announced €1b in funding for the building of production capacity in Africa, which will create long-term production capacity in Africa. The US Government announced its support for a waiver of IP protection for COVID-19 vaccines only. The statement acknowledged that reaching agreement on this at the WTO will take time given the consensus-based nature of the institution and the complexity of the issues involved.
The EU continues to be committed to an open and comprehensive dialogue with all WTO members to explore how the multilateral rules-based trading system can best support universal and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.
The EU believes that the WTO international agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (The TRIPS Agreement), allows countries the flexibility to respond to the concerns raised by proponents of the waiver. Specifically, the TRIPS Agreement allows compulsory licensing which is when a government permits an entity to produce the patented product or process without the consent of the patent owner.
The EU also believes that voluntary licensing and the dissemination of technology and know-how is the more effective way of quickly scaling up manufacturing globally.
The EU considers that the COVAX Facility, the international initiative to ensure global supply and access to COVID-19 vaccines, is the mechanism that is best placed to ensure that high-income countries finance the vaccines and support the developing countries to secure their share of global supply.
The EU has also submitted a proposal for a Declaration to the WTO TRIPS Council, which seeks to clarify how the existing TRIPS flexibilities could be more effective than a waiver.
Ireland will engage with the European Commission and other member states on the EU position for the WTO discussions on how the intellectual property protections flexibilities for COVID-19 vaccines can help to resolve the crisis and contribute towards increasing the manufacturing capacity and the equitable access to vaccines around the world.
Fire Safety
Questions (44)
Richard Bruton
Question:44. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there is a review of furniture fire regulations being planned; and if so, the context of the review. [33750/21]
View answerWritten answers
In the area of furniture fire safety, there are no harmonised EU standards. The Irish standard (I.S. 419:2011) and regulations (SI No. 316/1995) were introduced to protect consumers by preventing the rapid spread of a fire started on or near furniture.
In 2019 my Department conducted a public consultation on the future of the regulations. The public consultation period was extended until April 2020 as the Covid-19 epidemic meant that not all stakeholders could comply with the original deadline.
My officials are currently reviewing the extremely detailed responses to the public consultation and hope to have recommendations on any revised regulations later in the year.
Trade Agreements
Questions (45)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:45. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the provision of state aid by Ireland to locally based cultural industries and artists is permissible under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union. [33624/21]
View answerWritten answers
The EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, commonly known as CETA, has provisionally applied since 21st September 2017, meaning a great many of the benefits of this Agreement are already in place. Provisional application is a standard mechanism provided for in the EU’s Free Trade Agreements. This means that those areas where the EU has full competence may be applied immediately once the Agreement has been voted for by Council and the European Parliament. It is an important mechanism that allows consumers and companies to benefit from a trade agreement at an early stage, as the completion of national ratification procedures across all 27 Member States can take several years.
The positive impact of the provisional application of the Agreement has been plain to see with goods exports to Canada increased from EUR 953 million in 2016 to more than EUR 1.7 billion in 2020, an increase of 78 per cent, while services exports grew from EUR 1.6 billion in 2016 to more than EUR 2.3 billion in 2019, an increase of 44 per cent.
Looking further at the tangible benefits of this Agreement, my Department has recently released the results of an independent study of the potential economic opportunities and impacts for Ireland from the European Union’s Free Trade Agreements with Canada as well as South Korea, Mexico and Japan. The study, released on 28 April, encompasses state of the art quantitative modelling and qualitative analysis, including a comprehensive programme of stakeholder engagement with business and agriculture representatives and found that these four EU FTAs are forecast to have a positive effect on trade, GDP and national income in Ireland.
The full coming into force of the Agreement once ratified across all Member States, will see the implementation of the Investment Chapter of the Agreement including the resolution of disputes between investors and states, should they arise. All international trade agreements have dispute resolution arrangements. Where such agreements cover (i) trade in both goods and services and (ii) investment rules and protections, then there must be a dispute resolution mechanism that covers investments. The EU’s new approach to investment protection is the Investment Court System (ICS) which is contained in CETA and replaces the old Investor-State Dispute Settlement or ISDS mechanism. I have set out for the House, on many occasions previously, the improvements ICS represents over the older ISDS.
It is also important to point out that CETA reaffirms the EU and Canada’s right to regulate to achieve legitimate policy objectives, such as the protection of public health, the environment or consumer protection. And while CETA does not prevent a party pursuing a claim through domestic courts, the ICS element of CETA is specifically designed to provide an arbitration alternative to either EU investors in Canada or Canadian investors in the EU.
In relation to the "locally-based cultural industries and artists" highlighted by the Deputy, Canada and the EU are both signatories of the UNESCO Convention of Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and this is explicitly "affirmed" in CETA, including the "right to preserve, develop and implement their cultural policies, to support their cultural industries for the purpose of strengthening the diversity of cultural expressions and to preserve their cultural identity, including through the use of regulatory measures and financial support". Importantly, Article 7.7 of CETA explicitly provides that: "Noting in this Agreement applies to subsidies or government support with respect to audio-visual services for the European Union and to cultural industries for Canada." In this context, my Department sees no issues arising under the terms of CETA that would impact Ireland's entitlement to support locally-based cultural industries and artists.
Workplace Relations Commission
Questions (46, 47)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:46. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of employing one additional Workplace Relations Commission inspector. [33717/21]
View answerLouise O'Reilly
Question:47. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of employing ten additional Workplace Relations Commission inspectors. [33718/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 47 together.
The WRC carries out inspections of employer records with a view to determining compliance with employment rights legislation.
The full year cost of recruiting an executive officer inspector for the Workplace Relations Commission would be approximately €61,341.
This is based on the calculation of staff costs as set out in the Public Spending Code. The code sets out that the cost should be based on the midpoint of the salary scale and include employer’s salary related PRSI, imputed pension costs and overheads e.g. ICT equipment, legal costs, travel and subsistence.
Using the same methodology, the cost of ten additional inspectors would be approximately €613,410.
The gross basic pay, exclusive of any of the additional costs set out above, at the first point of the Executive Office Scale (the scale to which WRC inspectors are assigned) would be €30,884 for one officer or €308,840 for ten.
My Department fully supports and continues to work closely with the WRC in monitoring its staffing and budgetary requirements. This includes anticipating future resource requirements to ensure that it is supported and adequately resourced to carry out its important work.
Currently, there are 2 competitions ongoing with the Public Appointments Service. Interviews for a HEO Inspector Team Manager competition have been finalised and the WRC expect 2 appointments from that competition shortly.
A recruitment drive for EO Inspectors is also underway. This will create a panel to enable vacancies to be filled and could potentially be used to increase inspector numbers in future, if the WRC deem it to be necessary.
The Department in conjunction with the Director General of the WRC is currently actively reviewing staffing levels of the WRC inspection services.
The WRC’s funding allocation for 2021 is €15.17 million for pay and non-pay. I am confident that the funding provided by my Department to the WRC is sufficient to ensure that the body is adequately resourced to respond to any additional demands on services.
Departmental Bodies
Questions (48)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:48. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of employing one additional Health and Safety Authority inspector. [33719/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Health and Safety Authority’s human resources represent staff in administration and inspector grades. The inspector grades comprise of Grade I (senior inspectors) as well as Grade II and Grade III inspectors.
Inspectors operate across all of the Authority’s legislative mandates which include occupational health and safety, chemicals, and market surveillance of products. These inspectors may also be involved in either general inspection, specialist inspection or policy implementation at national, European and international level.
Most of the Authority’s inspectors are at Grade III level which is the grade for new-entrants.
The costs for employing a Health and Safety Inspector depend on the Grade, and the relevant costs for each grade are outlined below. As you will see from the table, the cost of employing one additional inspector at Grade III, including PRSI, recruitment and onboarding costs is approximately €50,796.
|
Grade |
Salary |
Employer PRSI |
Onboarding Costs |
|
Inspector Grade I |
€ 72,578 |
€7,802 |
€15,000 |
|
Inspector Grade II |
€ 63,275 |
€6,802 |
€15,000 |
|
Inspector Grade III |
€ 32,321 |
€3,475 |
€15,000 |
Assumptions
1. Figures based on starting point of the relevant grade for all positions
2. Provision included for Employer PRSI calculated at 10.75%.
3. Recruitment and onboarding cost of €15k for Inspector positions based on batch recruitment.
Departmental Bodies
Questions (49)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:49. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the estimated cost of employing ten additional Health and Safety Authority inspectors. [33720/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Health and Safety Authority’s human resources represent staff in administration and inspector grades. The inspector grades comprise of Grade I (senior inspectors) as well as Grade II and Grade III inspectors.
Inspectors operate across all of the Authority’s legislative mandates which include occupational health and safety, chemicals, and market surveillance of products. These inspectors may also be involved in either general inspection, specialist inspection or policy implementation at national, European and international level.
Most of the Authority’s inspectors are at Grade III level which is the grade for new-entrants.
The costs for employing a Health and Safety Inspector depend on the Grade, and the relevant costs for each grade are outlined below. The cost of employing ten additional inspectors at Grade III, including PRSI, recruitment and onboarding costs is approximately €507,960.
|
Grade |
Salary |
Employer PRSI |
Onboarding Costs |
|
Inspector Grade I |
€ 72,578 |
€7,802 |
€15,000 |
|
Inspector Grade II |
€ 63,275 |
€6,802 |
€15,000 |
|
Inspector Grade III |
€ 32,321 |
€3,475 |
€15,000 |
Assumptions
1. Figures based on starting point of the relevant grade for all positions
2. Provision included for Employer PRSI calculated at 10.75%.
3. Recruitment and onboarding cost of €15k for Inspector positions based on batch recruitment.
Departmental Bodies
Questions (50)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:50. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of Health and Safety Authority workplace inspectors currently employed. [33721/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Health and Safety Authority has a current headcount of 189 which is made up of staff in administration and inspector grades. The current inspector headcount in the Authority is 105 comprising of Grade I (senior inspectors) as well as Grade II and Grade III inspectors.
Inspectors operate across all of the Authority’s legislative mandates which include occupational health and safety, chemicals, and market surveillance of products. These inspectors may also be involved in either general inspection, specialist inspection or policy implementation at national, European and international level.
In Budget 2021, the Government allocated an additional €4.2 million to the Authorities pay provision to resource both its COVID-19 and ongoing Brexit responses. In this respect the first phase of recruitment have been sanctioned and the Authority are actively recruiting Grade III inspectors at present, with the first of these new recruits due to join the Authority in July 2021.
Departmental Bodies
Questions (51)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:51. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the funding provided to IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, InterTradeIreland and local enterprise offices, respectively in 2019, 2020 and 2021, in tabular form. [33723/21]
View answerWritten answers
The table below sets out the exchequer funding expended by IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, InterTradeIreland and local enterprise offices, respectively in 2019, 2020 and the 2021 funding allocated through the published Revised Estimate Volume.
|
Revised Estimates Volume Allocations |
2019 Outturn(€,000) |
2020 Outturn(€,000) |
2021 Allocation*(€,000) |
|
InterTrade Ireland |
9,901m |
12,724m |
11,036m |
|
IDA Ireland |
178,670m |
198,177m |
210,933m |
|
Enterprise Ireland – Jobs and Enterprise Development |
119,431m |
820,987m |
204,457m |
|
Enterprise Ireland - Innovation |
126,741m |
127,294m |
131,854m |
|
Local Enterprise Development (LEOs) |
35,333m |
76,992m |
47,781m |
|
Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (Administered by EI) |
15,415m |
16,500m |
45,000m |
*Revised Estimates Volume 2021 published Dec 2020
The totals included account for both Capital and Current funding expended/allocated to the agencies, however they do not include any funding that may have been provided by way of Capital Carryover.
The unprecedented increase in my Department's allocation in 2020 was in order to actively respond to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on our enterprise base.
Since the publication of the 2021 Estimate, Government agreed to provide further additional funding to my Department to assist in the ongoing response to Covid and Brexit. This Revised Estimate is due to be presented to the Members Oireachtas Committee for ETE for approval shortly.
Social Welfare Code
Questions (52)
Niall Collins
Question:52. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on a matter concerning the proposed sick pay scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33814/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Government is committed to introducing a statutory sick pay scheme and work is well underway in this regard. Ireland is currently an outlier among its peer nations in not providing for any statutory employer sick pay and is one of only three EU member states that does not do so. Any move to introduce a statutory sick pay scheme must be balanced with the need to support the viability of the business and enterprise sector, thereby protecting jobs. Therefore, appropriate examination of all implications and consultation with stakeholders is essential to the development of the scheme. We don’t want to jeopardise jobs by placing a cost and/or admin burden on business without working through all of the implications and potential solutions. That is why we undertook a full public consultation, reviewed international best practice, and formed an interdepartmental group – to ensure that all views and issues were properly considered in the development of the scheme. Research in this area has shown that where companies have a sick pay scheme in place it leads to safer workplace environments and reduces presenteeism. The scheme will be designed to take an incremental approach with enhancements coming over a number of years. This is to give employers, particularly employers who may have had to close or been negatively impacted due to Covid-19 restrictions, an opportunity to adjust to costs and the administrative burden of the scheme. However, in line with statutory sick pay schemes throughout the European Union, the intention of the scheme is that employers will cover the cost of an initial period where one of their employees is unable to work due to illness or injury.
The rate of 70% of an employee's wage, subject to a daily threshold of €110, is designed to ensure that employees receive an appropriate level of financial compensation if they are unable to attend work due to illness. It is higher than the equivalent rate in Northern Ireland, which, in my view is inadequate.
It is my intention that the scheme will be in place for 2022.
Planning Issues
Questions (53)
Marian Harkin
Question:53. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will issue guidelines to An Bord Pleanála as a matter of urgency to have regard to the policy against the importation of fracked gas published on 18 May 2021. [33775/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Policy Statement on the Importation of Fracked Gas was notified to An Bord Pleanála following its approval by Government on and publication 18 May 2021. Section 34 of the Planning & Development Act requires An Bord Pleanála (or any planning authority) to consider the proper planning and sustainable development of an area with regard being had to relevant Government policies such as the Policy Statement on the Importation of Fracked Gas.
Climate Change Policy
Questions (54)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:54. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason the Decarbonisation Pathways for Ireland by a company (details supplied) is not being published. [33635/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill sets out our national economy-wide climate targets for 2030 and 2050, and the process for setting carbon budgets and sectorial emissions ceilings. It does not specify economy-wide or sectorial carbon budgets, and does not present options in relation to decarbonisation. Once the Climate Change Advisory Council proposes carbons budgets, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications must bring a recommendation to Government and the Oireachtas in relation to the carbon budget programme and sectorial ceilings, which will ultimately find expression in the Climate Action Plan 2021. Analysis, including reports from consultants, is still ongoing and, once completed, it can be published alongside the Plan.
Departmental Schemes
Questions (55, 56, 57)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:55. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of new applicants for the warmer homes scheme in 2019, 2020 and 2021. [33637/21]
View answerEoin Ó Broin
Question:56. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of households that have applied for the warmer homes scheme retrofit grant that have children in their homes. [33638/21]
View answerEoin Ó Broin
Question:57. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of applicants per qualifying payment that applied in 2020 and 2021, in tabular form. [33639/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 to 57, inclusive, together.
The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme is funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty. To date over 142,000 homes have received free upgrades under the scheme, leaving the occupants better able to afford to heat their homes to an adequate level. The approximate average value of the energy efficiency measures provided to households under the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme was €14,800 in 2020.
A total of €221.5 million in capital funding has been provided for SEAI residential and community retrofit schemes in 2021. Of this amount, €109 million is provided to support lower income households to retrofit their homes, with €100 million allocated to the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme. This represents an increase of €47 million on the 2020 allocation for energy poverty schemes and means that almost half of the total SEAI residential and community retrofit budget will support people vulnerable to energy poverty. The funding will mean that more households can receive free energy efficiency upgrades making their homes warmer, healthier and cheaper to run, in line with the Programme for Government. However, COVID-19 public health restrictions on construction activity in 2020 and between January and April 2021 have unfortunately negatively impacted on the programme. The number of new applicants for the Warmer Homes Scheme in 2019, 2020 and year to date 2021 is set out in the table below.
Table 1: New Applicants for the Warmer Homes Scheme - 2019-2021
|
YEAR |
NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED |
|
2019 |
5,682 |
|
2020 |
2,786 |
|
2021 (to end May) |
1,140 |
|
TOTAL |
9,608 |
The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of households who have applied for the warmer homes scheme retrofit grant that have children in their homes is not available as neither my Department nor the SEAI collects such information.
Data provided by SEAI following a review of applications indicates that the approximate breakdown of homes on the work programme by qualifying grant payment is as set out in the table below. This is subject to change as additional applications are made and as others are completed.
Table 2: Review of Applications by SEAI
|
QUALIFYING PAYMENT |
% BREAKDOWN |
|
Carers Allowance |
12% |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
10% |
|
Fuel Allowance |
71% |
|
Job Seekers Allowance, and child under 7 |
1% |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
1% |
|
Working Family Payment |
5% |
Waste Management
Questions (58)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:58. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the audits that are conducted by the State to ensure that separated waste intended to be recycled from domestic customers of waste disposal companies is recycled and not disposed of in landfill or other ways in this country or after export; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33643/21]
View answerWritten answers
Waste collectors operate under waste collection permits. Conditions attached to these permits require collectors to separately collect segregated waste and to deliver this waste to suitable treatment facilities. Permit conditions are enforced by local authorities.
Waste treatment facilities operate under a waste facility permit from a local authority or a waste licence from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Operating conditions for and performance at permitted waste facilities are enforced by local authorities while operating conditions for and performance at licensed waste sites are enforced by the EPA.
Dublin City Council is designated as the National Competent Authority for the export, import and transit of waste shipments under S.I. No. 419 of 2007 Waste Management (Shipments of Waste) Regulations, 2007. These Regulations give effect to Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1013/2006 on transfrontier shipments of waste, which sets out notification procedures, specifies waste listings and strengthens enforcement provisions in relation to waste movements within, into and out of the European Union. Provisions of the Waste Shipment Regulation require that all exports of waste from the European Union destined for disposal shall be prohibited. The enforcement and monitoring of shipments of waste to and from Ireland is maintained by the National Transfrontier Shipments Office (NTFSO) within Dublin City Council, which monitors and enforces these requirements and maintains statistics and information on shipments of waste to and from Ireland.
Cybersecurity Policy
Questions (59)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:59. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the funding needed to increase the budget of the National Cyber Security Centre to €50 million. [33744/21]
View answerWritten answers
The NCSC budget allocation for 2021 is €6.9 million of which €1.8m relates to salaries. The Government has trebled the capital and programme funding for the NCSC from €1.7 million in 2020 to €5.1 million in 2021. The funding and resourcing of the NCSC has been increased over the past five years. The Programme for Government included a commitment to undertake a Capacity Review of the NCSC in order to expand the NCSC’s ability to monitor and respond to cyber security incidents and developing threats. The Capacity Review will inform decisions to be taken on the future resourcing of the NCSC.
Cybersecurity Policy
Questions (60)
Michael Creed
Question:60. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he plans to introduce urgent legislation to establish the National Cyber Security Centre on a statutory basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33751/21]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for Government included a commitment to undertake a Capacity Review of the NCSC in order to expand the NCSC’s ability to monitor and respond to cyber security incidents and developing threats. The Capacity Review will inform decisions to be taken on the future of the NCSC, including with respect to its statutory mandate.
Waste Management
Questions (61)
Niall Collins
Question:61. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the landfill levy was introduced; when consumers such as a person (details supplied) would have first noticed this levy on their bills; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33796/21]
View answerWritten answers
The landfill levy was introduced under the Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001 and came into effect on 1 June 2002. The purpose of the charge was to effect behaviour change regarding disposal of waste to landfill and this has been successful with just 3 landfills currently in operation in the State, a reduction from 31 in 2008. In addition, our landfill rate for municipal waste was just 14% in 2018, compared to a figure of 62% recorded for 2008. The waste management market in Ireland is serviced by private companies, where prices charged are a contract matter between those companies and their customers. It is not possible therefore to state when a consumer would have first noticed any change related to the levy on their bills.