Eamon Gilmore
Ceist:4 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Finance if any estimate has been made of the annual volume of paper which is used by the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make arrangements for the recycling of this paper.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Paper Recycling.
The annual volume of paper used by the Houses of the Oireachtas is not available and would take an inordinate amount of time to calculate. Because of the manner in which most of the paper is used Dáil Debates, Seanad Debates, etc. these could not be recycled nor could the letterheads used by Members of the Dáil in correspondence with constituents, etc.
Confidential waste paper is a matter for individual Departments and offices. It is normally shredded and then sold as waste paper, most of which is recycled. Ordinary waste paper is, for the most part, removed by a single contractor employed by the Office of Public Works. This includes material from the Houses of the Oireachtas. The contractor is paid to collect the waste paper which is recycled to a limited extent having regard to its condition.
Would the Minister of State not accept that, apart from the confidential documents dealt with in the House there is a substantial volume of paper which goes through each office which would not be of a confidential nature but which is simply dumped in waste bins? Would he accept that this paper could usefully be recycled? Can he give the House some indication of the proportion of the paper currently recycled by the contractor to whom he referred?
I do not have that precise information. All I can tell the Deputy is that we are aware that the paper is collected here by a contractor who also collects from other Departments. My information is that most of that paper, if suitable, is recycled. However, I understand that the market for that commodity at present is somewhat limited, in fact, the indications I have had from the inquiries I have made are that prices are bad and that it is not a paying proposition at present. The Government Supplies Agency arrange printing for the Houses of the Oireachtas and the cost of the services to the Houses, which would be papers, printing and publishing generally, would amount to approximately £1.5 million annually. The majority of such material would not be available for recycling, some of it being private material which would not normally be recycled. I am talking about Dáil and Seanad Debates, Acts of Parliament, Dáil and Seanad agendas and a whole variety of other reports of committees and so on. But, as far as it can be recycled this is being done. That is all the information I have for the Deputy.
I understand from the Minister's reply that the contractor in question deals not only with the paper generated by the Houses of the Oireachtas but in other Government Departments as well. I am somewhat surprised to learn, from his reply, that the Minister does not know the extent to which this paper is recycled having regard to the Government's environment action programme. Does the Minister not feel that his reply is completely at variance with the commitments given in the Government's environment action programme which laid very strong emphasis on recycling and, indeed, made finance available for such recycling, including the recycling of paper? Would the Minister ensure that the example being given by a number of local authorities who have made arrangements for the recycling of paper generated in their offices will be followed?
We have made arrangements for the collection of waste material. That is being done by contractors. The contract goes out to tender on a regular basis; that has been the position to date. My information is that quite a sizeable amount of the material suitable for recycling is recycled. My further information — which can be borne out by people with an interest in this — is that at present there is not a great demand or market for that commodity.
What proportion, if any, of the paper purchased and used is of the recycled variety?
We do not have detailed information about this and it would take an inordinate amount of time and effort to collate such information. What I have said is that quite a sizeable proportion of the material supplied by the Government Supplies Agency is not of a recycling nature — is of a private nature, the type of documentation I have already indicated in my reply.
I think the Minister misunderstood my question. I am asking about the paper purchased; he is talking about the paper disposed of for recycling. I am asking him what proportion of the paper he buys is of the recycled variety, the purchases inwards, not outwards?
The majority of the paper purchased is of a very high quality. As I have said it is the type of paper used in the Houses of the Oireachtas, some of which is used for publications of a private nature. The decision about what type of paper should be used and other matters of that nature is one which can be decided by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. If they want to use different type paper they should so inform us.
Is not the answer to my question simply "none".
Would the Minister agree that it should be incument on this House to use recycled paper for letter headings? The Minister has just said there is quite a poor market at present for paper for recycling. Would he not agree that the reason for that is that there is not sufficient recycled paper being used? Would the Minister undertake to have this matter examined by the appropriate department?
If the Committee on Procedure and Privileges decide to purchase recycled paper for use in the Houses of the Oireachtas and they so inform us, we will do so. My obligation is to meet the requirements of Departments; whatever else is necessary is provided by the Government Supplies Agency. Matters of this nature really are for decision by the Houses themselves.
Would the Minister agree that it is time the Government practised what they preach with regard to recycling?
Deputies do not always practice what they preach either.