124. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he contacted Re-turn Ireland to request that they update their website to provide details of their board of directors; if he believes that transparency around the governance of Re-turn Ireland is critical to the successful operation of that entity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33770/24]

125. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the details of staffing of Re-turn Ireland, including the board of directors; the Governmental controls on the levels of remuneration within the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33771/24]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 124 and 125 together.

Re-turn is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee (CLG) set up by beverage producers to meet their obligations under the DRS Regulations. Re-turn is responsible for all operational and funding matters relating to the DRS. While I have no function in the day-to-day business operations of this company, I am is satisfied that there are appropriate regulatory and administrative controls in place to monitor the performance of the Scheme. Officials from my Department are in regular contact with Re-turn, including through weekly meetings and the provision of daily performance metrics.

The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is an extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme, whereby producers are given responsibility for the collection and disposal of their products. My Department has already successfully introduced a number of EPRs for other consumer products, such as batteries, Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) and tyres.

As with the other EPRs, it is the responsibility of producers to establish and to nominate an operator of the scheme for approval by the Minister. All EPRs operate under minimum requirements set out in the Waste Management Act and in accordance with a Code of Corporate Governance developed for EPR schemes, which is published on the Department's website (www.gov.ie/en/publication/63441-extended-producer-responsibility/)

Re-turn, the DRS operator, must also comply with the DRS Regulations and the terms and conditions set out in their approval, issued in accordance with those Regulations. It is also subject to the Companies Act 2014 and oversight by the Company Registration Office and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement.