Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman for the opportunity to present the Oil Emergency Contingency and Transfer of Renewable Transport Fuels Functions Bill 2023 to the select committee. The main purpose of the Bill is to strengthen the Government's ability to manage stocks in the unlikely event of a curtailment of oil supplies. I acknowledge the broad support the Bill received in the Dáil last week.

This important Bill will strengthen the statutory provisions that are available to Government to respond to a severe or prolonged emergency. It will ensure adequate supplies for emergency and critical services and for the use of oil to generate electricity, if necessary, in the event of a major gas shortage. The Bill amends the National Oil Reserves Act 2007 to place a statutory requirement on the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to produce an oil emergency response plan. It also provides for the establishment of an emergency register of oil suppliers in order to allow for timely communication between the Minister and oil suppliers during an oil emergency.

Provision is made for the transfer of oil-related excise data from the Revenue Commissioners to the Minister to assist in oil emergency contingency planning. In addition, the Bill amends the Fuels (Control of Supplies) Act 1971 to allow the Minister, by order, where there is a fuel emergency to provide for direction-making powers to ensure the supply of fuel to protect the operation of the electricity grid and other essential services.

The Bill also effectively transfers the statutory functions relating to renewable transport fuels from the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to the Minister for Transport in line with the change in policy responsibility that took place in 2021. In addition, provision has been made for the Minister for Transport to make regulations to effect an increase in the use of renewable transport fuels in line with the renewable energy directive and climate policy. These provisions will further drive the use of renewable transport fuels, including the introduction of the E10 petrol standard, and will contribute to the State’s climate goals.

I do not propose to introduce any amendments today and I do not intend to bring forward any on Report Stage. I note that amendments have been tabled, and I look forward to the debate.