Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Very well. I thank all the witnesses for attending and making their presentations to us. I find it very surprising that there should be a reduction of this nature in terms of what we are trying to do in aiming to generate energy from renewable sources. Can any of the witnesses give me any indication as to why we are dropping to this level? I would have thought there are plenty of opportunities for us to convert to renewable energies. What position is Ireland taking on this new figure? This follows on from what Deputy McConalogue said about the 3.8% cap. Surely the energy ministers can carry enormous influence on this, be ambitious and have a vision whereby we can move to reaching targets instead of finding reasons not to reach them, perhaps because of our own inaction or whatever else.

Mr. Brady referred to advanced biofuels. To what was he referring? I have another question for Mr. Cogan. Is there any reference to palm oil diesel and whether the draft goes far enough in stopping its use? As the witnesses will be aware, this is something we are aiming for, so what is the position in that regard? Furthermore, is the change of land use from food production to fuel production driving this reduction, or what is the position in that regard?