Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 February 2022
68. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the circular economy Bill; the timeline he is working towards to publish the draft heads; if he plans to ban plastic packaging on fruit and vegetables; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8752/22]
View answerThe Circular Economy Bill2022 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. As Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, the Bill will provide the power to introduce environmental levies on certain single-use items, including single-use packaging, and to prohibit their placing on the market where a suitable re-usable alternative is, or could be made, readily available. These measures will be introduced by means of secondary legislation.
Pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill before the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action has been completed and the Report of the Committee was published on 16 December last. Drafting of the Bill is well advanced and I expect to seek Government approval to publish the Bill in Q1 2022.
