Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It was a very interesting presentation. Mr. Cogan makes a compelling case about the impact it can have upfront and the fact there is no requirement to adapt the internal combustion engine or to make any major modifications at the forecourt. My only concern relates to the availability of the product and its sustainability. I look on it from the point of view of the importation of fracked gas and further exploration for gas or oil off the coast.

In terms of infrastructure, we have this term "lock-in". Does Mr. Cogan have concerns about getting farmers to invest in growing sugar beet or whatever will produce the ethanol at a time we are effectively phasing it out? I accept the point that peak oil will be reached in 2040, but is Mr. Cogan suggesting that we ramp up investment in something that we are trying to tail off? That is my only concern.

There is an argument that we should look at this immediately because emissions from the transport sector are so far off the scale. Why have we not introduced the requirement at this stage or what is the impediment?