I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. All those of us on the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action accept and are wedded to the idea of moving to a circular economy and away from a linear one. Part of the way to do that is to buy less stuff. It is one of the most obvious ways for people to reduce their own waste. My amendment No. 64 deals with a problem that has emerged whereby not buying stuff is generating waste. This is because many corporations have a business model involving overproduction. They also …

I will speak to amendments Nos. 62 and 63. I will be very brief because I understand we have many amendments to get through. Amendment No. 62 deals with the definition of food waste as meaning food loss and food waste. We discussed this on Committee Stage. We are very concerned that food loss is not being captured by the circular economy Bill because it is not defined. Most people are aware that 30% of food that is purchased is disposed of. Food loss is the food that never makes it to the shop shelf. That includes …

On the website, it states on the schedule that the Seanad adjourns at 7 p.m.

I move amendment No. 62: In page 25, to delete line 8 and substitute the following: " "food waste" means "food loss and food waste" where: (a) "food waste" refers to food that completes the food supply chain up to a final product, of good quality and fit for consumption, but still doesn't get consumed because it is discarded, whether or not after it is left to spoil or expire. Food waste typically (but not exclusively) takes place at retail and consumption stages in the food supply chain; and (b) "food loss" refers…

I move amendment No. 63: In page 25, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following: "Supermarket Refill Station Report 16. (1) The Minister shall, within 12 months of the passing of this Act, prepare and publish a report examining how retailers can reduce plastic packaging in Ireland by encouraging customers to use re-usable containers through requiring a minimum amount of floor space be dedicated to refill stations dedicated to the provision of re-usable products including staples like rice, pasta, cereals, beans…

I move amendment No. 64: In page 25, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following: "Ban on dumping of new non-food products 16. (1) Producers, importers and distributors of new non-food products intended for sale are required to reuse them by donating such products to charities, NGOs, secondhand shops, or social enterprises, as may be defined in regulation by the Minister. (2) In this section, "non-food products" may be defined in regulation by the Minister and shall include but not be limited to the following: (…

I will raise the excellent session that was held in the audiovisual room on energy poverty and energy pollution. It was a very welcome initiative to see both the social and the environmental organisations come together to call for a true just transition. We know that 29% of Irish households are currently living in energy poverty. That is the highest number that has ever been recorded. Average household energy Bills have increased by €1,100 in one year and the rising costs of energy continue to disproportionately im…