I want to raise the issue of Shabra Plastics in Castleblayney, County Monaghan, which is Ireland's only PET recycling company. It recycles more than 12,000 tonnes of plastic which it buys from materials recovery facilities. It sells 90% of the processed, recycled materials to Irish companies. This model has become untenable because some European countries, including the UK, have a levy on virgin material, increasing demand for recycled material. The Irish Government through Repak is paying a subsidy on recycling PET bottles but they are not recycled, they are separated and sold to the highest bidder. Currently they are being sold outside of the country. The Minister needs to take action to keep recycled material in Ireland to be reprocessed. There should be zero subsidy for exporting raw material out of the country. We are increasing our carbon footprint and putting 50 jobs at risk in Monaghan.

The Deputy raises a serious issue. The Government this week brought the Circular Economy, Waste Management (Amendment) and Minerals Development (Amendment) Bill 2022 to the Oireachtas environment committee on Committee Stage. That provides a lot of the answers and reassurances to the company. In the development of the likes of the deposit refund scheme, where plastic and PET bottles are not just thrown into the green bin and the average waste stream, we get a very high quality stream of PET bottles that can be used in recycling I would imagine in the facility the Deputy is talking about and other facilities around the country. It is one of 200 measures in the waste action plan which we are going to deliver to make the circular economy real, reduce emissions, create jobs, and reduce waste and litter. It is agreed with industry. It is being delivered and is very real.