I asked a question about tagging.

I very much welcome the announcement yesterday by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, that he intends to introduce a levy on the use of plastic coffee cups. This measure would achieve the same objective as one of the elements of the Waste Reduction Bill 2017, Second Stage of which was completed earlier this year. While the Minister's approach differs from the approach we have taken in the Bill, the Green Party will support his measure as a means of achieving the same end.

We have received a copy of a letter from the Ceann Comhairle to the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Hildegarde Naughten, indicating that the Government must state whether it will issue a money message to support the Waste Reduction Bill moving to Committee Stage. I apologise if this issue appears complicated. The Dáil has a significant problem in respect of how it progresses legislation that has completed Second Stage. Will the Taoiseach indicate whether the Government will be willing to introduce such a money message to allow us to use the Waste Reduction Bill to deliver the measure announced by the Minister yesterday and go further by introducing a deposit system for plastic bottles similar to the schemes introduced in a number of other jurisdictions? Will the Government support advancing our Bill to Committee Stage and introduce the money message the Ceann Comhairle has asked it to provide?

The Fianna Fáil Party has the same issue regarding our Prohibition of Micro-Plastics Bill, which incorporates provisions similar to those to which the previous speaker referred but in respect of reducing use of non-recyclable tableware. We are also having a difficulty getting the Bill through the systems of the House. Unfortunately, we have not even had an opportunity to table the legislation. The Government must provide clarity on the concept of new politics and the idea of passing important legislation, rather than simply dealing with statements. I support Deputy Eamon Ryan's efforts in that regard. While the proposed measure on coffee cups is important, it was spun out yesterday to distract from the criticism levelled at the Government by the Citizens' Assembly on Sunday.

I will revert to the Deputies with an answer on the issue they raise. Before I can issue a money message, I need to know how much it would cost the taxpayer. As the budget has been done for next year, we do not have substantial amounts of unallocated money. I cannot issue money messages for money that is not available to spend.

I acknowledge, however, that we have a problem with the amount of Private Members' legislation coming through the House and, quite frankly, the quality of some of this legislation. What is required in that regard is that we embrace new politics. Mr. Aidan Dunning, a former Secretary General and independent person, prepared a report on how we can improve the processes by which the House is supposed to work, make new politics work and ensure Private Members' legislation coming through the House is of quality and can progress and be enacted. Unfortunately, we do not have all-party agreement on implementing Mr. Dunning's report. If we had agreement on it, I believe we could pass some of these Bills.