75. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to clarify his plans to sell Bord na Móna Recycling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7031/25]

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If they are grouped because we are raising the same issue, what are the timings for it? How does it-----

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I concur with my colleagues on this. There are concerns for the workers' futures and for the future of the industry. If this sale goes ahead, we will have a 100% privatised model of waste collection, which is not what anyone wants to see, particularly in the public arena. It also flies in the face of Government policy of a just transition. This was set up primarily to support the workers in Bord na Móna to transition from brown to green. I have specific questions regarding the Minister's consent. He has repeatedly emphasised that it was Bord na Móna's view when he was reading out the issues. What is his view on it? What will he be taking into account when he gives his consent to this? It seems to me there is an assumption the Minister will give consent. If the CCPC was formally contacted on the same day as the Minister, it seems to me this is seen as a done deal. This undermines the Minister's position and his ability to row back on this. Perhaps the Minister could give me some information on that.

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I thank the Minister for his response. I am glad to hear this is not yet a done deal and the Minister still has serious consideration to give to it, including the fact he will consider the future for the workers, which is fundamentally important. We need to consider Ireland's position on our requirements to reduce waste. This country is way off and we will not meet our 2025 EU targets. We have a lot of work to do in the waste sector and this will only be done through a more public model. This has come out of the blue for many people. There were discussions last year but this was not in the programme for Government. It was not identified in any manifesto. There was no information on this prior to the election. When it becomes widely known, there will be a lot of concern. I ask that the Minister uses the Oireachtas committee as a way to investigate and examine this issue from an Oireachtas perspective. I am not sure when the committee will be set up but this should be the first item it considers, after which it can make recommendations to the Minister for his consideration as he goes through the subsequent process and dialogue.

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