Dr. Neil Walker:

I am probably speaking beyond my competence, but my perception is that there are concerns about the sustainability of some liquid biofuels. The EU instituted a biofuels target many years ago and it had disastrous consequences with rainforests being chopped down to grow palm oil. One of the major suppliers of hydrotreated vegetable oil is from sustainable palm oil. However, the problem lies with proving that it is sustainably sourced. Ideally, we would want to have an indigenous industry. Just the other day one of my members asked me if there is a legal basis for a company to claim that it has genuinely certified offsetting. We really ought to be preparing. The European Commission adopted a proposal last year for an EU-wide certification of offsetting - the definition of additionality, the quantification and the enduringness of it. We need to be getting ready for that here. That is a conversation I intend to have with the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, when the opportunity arises.