Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 September 2023
112. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider extending the approach used for oversight of the Climate Action Plan to the complementary strategies for the circular economy and biodiversity. [41747/23]
View answerIreland’s strategic approach to the Circular Economy is currently set out in the Whole-of-Government Circular Economy Strategy 2022-2023. Section 7 of the Circular Economy Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 (‘the Act’) provides a statutory basis for future iterations of the Strategy. The Act requires that such iterations include sectoral targets aimed at promoting circularity across the range of resource-intensive economic sectors specified in the Act, and the actions necessary to meet those targets and support Government policy on the circular economy.
My Department is currently preparing the second iteration of the Strategy, which will be published on a statutory basis and will be fully in compliance with the provisions of Section 7 of the Act. The new Strategy will be submitted for Government approval, following a public consultation, and will be underpinned by an analysis of the respective resource consumption of the major economic sectors. Governance and oversight arrangements in relation to the Strategy will be considered as part of its preparation.
The National Biodiversity Action Plan comes within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Mr. O'Brien).
