Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Recycled Paper Utilisation.
- Government use of recycled paper 6 speeches
Quinn urged Government Departments to use recycled paper, arguing that doing so could demonstrate environmental leadership beyond a narrow cost-benefit calculation. The Taoiseach said the Government Supplies Agency would examine supply options through cost-effective tendering and agreed to keep Quinn’s suggestion in mind.
Ruairí Quinn, Charles J. Haughey
- Reopening Clondalkin Paper Mills 4 speeches
Rabbitte asked whether the Government would facilitate reopening Clondalkin Paper Mills, described as the country’s last paper-making facility; the Taoiseach said the matter merited a separate question.
Pat Rabbitte, Seán Treacy, Donal Carey, Charles J. Haughey
asked the Taoiseach the steps he has taken to ensure his Departments will utilise recycled paper in the course of their normal activities and correspondence within his Departments, with other Departments and with the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Comment on this
The bulk of my Departments' paper needs are supplied through the Government Supplies Agency and I have already asked the Government Suppies Agency to investigate the possibilities of supplying recycled paper in the context of normal cost-effective tendering arrangements.
Comment on this
The Taoiseach will no doubt be aware that I put down similar questions to all other Departments because if one has regard to the vast amount of paper which this House and the various Government Departments generate it surely must be now a feasible project to consider recycling paper within the confines of our own operation for everyday regular use and so set the kind of headline in environmental matters of which the Taoiseach gave fulsome description earlier today when he talked about the Madrid summit and the espousal of environmental protection measures.
Comment on this
I am not quite sure what the Deputy is asking me to do but I am in general sympathy with his approach.
Comment on this
If the Taoiseach confines the exercise exclusively to a cost benefit analysis on the project to recycle paper generated within the apparatus of Government at the broadest levels, the answer would probably be in the negative. If, however, the Taoiseach implements some of the values to which he gave voice earlier today in his report from the Madrid Summit, it might be a feasible headline that could be set by this Government for the entire Civil Service in relation to how we might continue to use recycled paper.
Comment on this
In the light of the requirement of the public service for paper, have the new Government any plans to facilitate the re-opening of the last paper making facility in the country, the Clondalkin Paper Mills?
