Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We are there on E10.

Will Mr. Cogan clarify how this relates with diesel? For example, in budget 2020, the Government is giving a tax relief to the Irish Road Haulage Association to subsidise the use of diesel at a time we are trying to get people to move away from this. Will Mr. Cogan comment specifically on the policy on diesel, as well as petrol, E10 and ethanol mixes?

I do not believe it is apocalyptic. In the case of Brazil, there are significant concerns in respect of land clearance for large-scale ethanol production. I am not against it. We can get it right but it is not helpful to use apocalyptic language. There are negative scenarios. An extremely negative scenario, however, is the scandal of used cooking oil. Taiwan gathered 12,000 tonnes of used cooking oil but somehow exported 11 million tonnes. That simply does not add up. That is worse for the environment.

To be constructive, Mr. Cogan referred to qualitative criteria for the sourcing of our biofuels. Will he elaborate on that? What portion could realistically come from agricultural waste? What portion cannot come from that source but will have to come from crops? Will he address the issue of biomethane and paludiculture? The committee has heard about rewetted lands being useable for paludiculture and the potential production of biofuel crops from that? These questions might require a written reply.