Mr. Kevin Brady:

I will address Senator Lombard's question first. The circa 1% is what is in our tanks. Production of bioethanol in Ireland is almost zero. In terms of the 7%, we are at 1%, but I would point out that we have a much bigger diesel fleet and use a lot more diesel than the average European country. All of the renewable energy in our diesel, I think it was 99% or 100% last year, was second generation. It was tallow and used cooking oil. Much of that is produced in Ireland. Those are not subject to the 7%, the 3.8% or any sort of limit like that. We are a way off from this. At the moment, the 7% or even the indication for 3.8% is not a barrier to development of bioenergy in Ireland. It may be in the future as we get towards that level, but at the moment it is not. In terms of emissions, we need to be very clear that this is in respect of our renewable energy targets only. Nothing we have talked about applies to our emissions targets. If a piece of land is taken out of beef farming and put into forestry, growing grain or whatever, or even the greenhouse gas emissions reduction if the whole country turned, there is no limit on that 7%. It is important that we look at the two things separately.

There is a move away from a national renewable energy target. The 2014 European Council conclusions that set an "at least" 27% target for the European Union as a whole stated there would be no national targets. We talk about our 16% 2020 target a lot. There will not be a European set target for 2020 for renewable energy. We will have to put together our national energy and climate plans and specify our ambition. That is why there would be no sectoral targets for transport, heat or electricity. There is a biofuel trajectory there. It is important to-----