Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

I have thought about this matter since Committee Stage and I believe I was right the first time. The original intention was as the Minister has indicated, but there is no reason the same cannot apply as does now, where a particular exemption is made. The description of petroleum products in the Bill includes the following categories of products: "(a) motor spirit and aviation fuel (that is to say, jet fuel of the gasoline type and aviation spirit); (b) gas oil, diesel oil and kerosene (including jet fuel of the kerosene type); and (c) fuel oils." Including biofuels in that section could have reflected a developing area of the industry. More importantly, there is no reason the Minister cannot put in the exemption regarding excise duty that currently exists. He could make it wider and more long term, which would be hugely beneficial for the development of the alternative fuels industry. That would give an excellent opportunity to the Minister to again reaffirm a zero level of excise duty on biofuels, and biofuels would be named specifically in the context thereof.

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