Parliamentary questions

262. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to outline his Department’s planned priorities for Ireland’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41754/26]

263. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update on the progression of the Private Wires Bill 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41880/26]

264. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update on the progression of the Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve Bill 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41881/26]

265. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment his response to the European Commission decision to open an infringement procedure against Ireland (INFR(2026)2037) for failing to correctly transpose the Single-Use Plastics Directive (Directive (EU) 2019/904); his plans to address the shortcomings raised by the Commission; and if he will make a statement on the ma…

266. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total monetary value of unredeemed deposits arising from the deposit return scheme in 2025. [41943/26]

267. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total monetary value of unredeemed deposits arising from the deposit return scheme in 2025; and when this figure was first available to his Department or to Re-turn. [41944/26]

268. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total cost of the independent review of the retailer handling fee commissioned by Re-turn and conducted by a company (details supplied). [41945/26]

269. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total cost of the validation of the findings of the retailer handling fee review carried out by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41946/26]

270. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total cost incurred by Re-turn in relation to the independent review of the retailer handling fee, including the cost of the review conducted by a company (details supplied) and the subsequent validation of its findings by a company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41947/26]

271. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether any surplus arising from unredeemed deposits under the deposit return scheme is retained by Re-turn; and if so, the total amount retained to date. [41948/26]

272. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the plans in place for the introduction of levies on single-use cups and containers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42012/26]

273. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the steps being taken to respond to infringement proceedings initiated by the European Commission regarding Ireland's incomplete transposition of the Single Use Plastics Directive (EU) 2019; the timeline for full compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42045/26]

274. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment when he intends to commence the provisions in the Circular Economy Act 2022 relating to a levy on single-use cups; the proposed levy rate; if an alternative binding consumption reduction target is under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42046/26]

275. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether the Government will introduce quantifiable national targets for the reduction of single-use plastic cups and food containers in line with EU requirements by 2026; and if so, when these will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42047/26]

276. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of commitments in the Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy (2020-2025) relating to single-use plastics have been fully delivered; to provide an updated implementation report with timelines for outstanding measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42048/26]

277. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42052/26]

278. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the way the renewables acceleration areas under the RED III Directive will be integrated into the regional renewable energy strategies to be adopted under the National Planning Framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42094/26]

279. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will clarify whether receipt of fuel allowance is considered a standalone qualifying payment under the scheme; whether applicants qualifying through fuel allowance are additionally required to satisfy the 'jobseeker's allowance for over six months and have a child under seven years of age' criterion; whet…

280. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment for an update on the drafting of the proposed heat (networks and miscellaneous provisions) Bill; if any legal, regulatory, technical or other issues have arisen in the preparation of the legislation; the current expected timeline for Government approval of the heads of Bill and publication of the Bill itself; a…

281. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will consider a mandate for flue cleaning as is the case in other jurisdictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42100/26]

282. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total amount spent by his Department on public procurement in 2025; to provide a breakdown, where available, by goods, services, works procurement expenditure, by expenditure procured directly by his Department and expenditure procured through central purchasing arrangements or frameworks; and if he will make a…

283. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether his Department is fully compliant with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Model Publication Scheme Guidance, issued under section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 2014, specifically the requirements under section D and section E (details supplied); to publish quarterly the contracts awarded a…

284. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will consider introducing a financial grant to allow older people to gain access to a control system for their heating; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42201/26]

285. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the opportunities the Government has identified for Ireland arising from the EU Critical Raw Materials Act; the actions being taken to attract investment in mineral exploration, processing and recycling industries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42228/26]

286. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the steps being taken to ensure Ireland remains competitive for mineral exploration investment while maintaining high environmental and community standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42229/26]