27 Oct CIRCULÉIRE involved in Circular Economy Bill Discussion in Oireachtas
Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action resume pre-legislative scrutiny General Scheme of Circular Economy Bill
The Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action met on Thursday, 21 October, to resume pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme of the Circular Economy Bill.
The meeting in Committee Room 2 of Leinster House heard from Dr. Geraldine Brennan, Head of Circular Economy at Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR), on behalf of CIRCULÉIRE.
Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Brian Leddin said: “This is our third meeting as part of our pre-legislative scrutiny of the Circular Economy Bill 2021, which proposes the necessary legislative basis for the transition an alternative to the existing economic model of production and consumption, which is economically and environmentally unsustainable.
“CIRCULÉIRE is a public-private partnership involving Irish Manufacturing Research and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, the Environmental Protection Agency, EIT Climate-KIC and industry partners and aims to assist manufacturers and their supply chains to switch from linear to circular business models. The Committee discussing the Heads of the Bill with Dr Brennan and hearing the views of CIRCULÉIRE on this important legislation.”
The Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.
Watch Committee proceedings
Below are highlights from Dr Geraldine Brennan, Head of Circular Economy, IMR’s evidence to the Oireachtas committee on behalf of CIRCULÉIRE’s Industry Members:
- CIRCULÉIRE’s members welcome the placing of the Circular Economy Strategy on a statutory footing through the Circular Economy Bill and the evolution of the Environment Fund into a Circular Economy Fund.
- The Government’s ambition to transition to a circular economy and ambition to become a leader in Europe by 2030 is matched by the willingness of industry to engage in the transformation journey – illustrated by CIRCULÉIRE’s network of cross-sectoral manufacturing companies and second-life enablers (EPR Schemes; material re-processors, reverse logistics and solution providers) including micro-enterprise, SMEs and MNCs alike.
- CIRCULÉIRE’s members welcome the development of a supportive and enabling environment to accelerate the transition to a circular economy in Ireland which includes;
- More “hands-on” regulatory approach with flexibility for research, development and piloting within existing regulatory frameworks;
- Greater regulatory certainty via clearer regulatory frameworks (citing the success of EPR Schemes for WEEE as replicable for other sectors);
- Supports to create marketplaces for circular products and services;
- Embedding circular economy criteria into existing public funding calls and developing capital expenditure funds for strategic infrastructure;
Members welcomed more forums for ongoing dialogue between public bodies, the third sector, industry, and citizens.