Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Commissioner and his officials from Europe and I thank him for his outline. I have a number of questions. The expectation is that the European Union as a whole is moving into a deregulated market. Our Commission for Energy Regulation approved an increase in gas prices in particular recently and even though the market is partially deregulated there were a number of copy-cat increases by other service or product providers. What role can the European Commission play to ensure that if we deregulate completely within the European Union we will not have price fixing, for want of a better term, or a cartel but absolute competition within the energy market? The United States and Japan have consistently lower gas prices than the European Union. What steps can be taken at a European level to ensure the raw material is at the lowest possible price?

Mr. Oettinger spoke about renewables. Ireland has been going down the path of renewables in every community and county at various levels. I understand the total budget for renewables is 3.7%. Does the European Commission have any plans to target more resources to individual business or even individual house owners to encourage them to go down the route of renewables and direct the grant subsidy to the smaller micro-businesses or communities rather than to multiples or large corporations? There would be a better take-up of it if that were done.

On Monday the European Commission came out with new legislative proposals on the bio-industry, and it has spoken about removing the funding from that post-2020. Following the exit of our country from beet production we have done numerous feasibility studies and reports on renewable energy including ethanol, bioethanol and so forth. Is this measure not a retrograde step? Our entire community is dependent on oil, and I believe 84% of the raw material for energy comes from outside the European Union. Is that sustainable? Will Dr. Oettinger explain the Commission's decision announced on Monday regarding biofuels?

Is there any scope within the Commission's programme for recovery? The Commissioner's stated objective on that point is for growth and job creation. Is there a specific programme within that? If we consider co-financing, this country is co-operating with Europe on austerity programmes to a major extent and we will be looking for more flexibility from Europe and more co-financing in regard to investment. There are people who are willing to invest in alternative energy across this country and more could be done in that regard. The Commissioner might answer those questions.