Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

The Minister of State had a designated role in this issue. I work in consultation with my Ministers, whom I trust and who are more than capable of delivering the service. I worked to support them in this initiative. At the time, the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, was anxious to progress it quickly. We have done so. The demand was a difficulty but the excise duty issue has been dealt with by the Minister for Finance who is very supportive of alternative energies for many reasons. We also had the issue of hybrid cars, which was dealt with in the budget. Furthermore, we have had a large number of initiatives which were mentioned in the budget by the Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey. They will be available very soon. They link in with the work I am doing with willows and thinnings. All these issues are being dealt with but the issue of the €45 per acre will be the key that will unlock this issue.

With regard to sugar beet, as Deputy Upton said, diversification is an option. A number of young farmers in north Cork spoke to me about that. Sugar beet is not included under the EU energy crop scheme but there is nothing to say we cannot pursue such a possibility given that many sugar beet farmers would like to continue to grow sugar beet.

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