Dáil debates

Tuesday, 13 February 2007

 

Biofuels (Blended Motor Fuels) Bill 2007: Second Stage

7:00 am

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)

This Government is trying to pull the wool over people's eyes on this issue. Fine Gael has solid proposals that will stimulate a market for farmers and encourage consumers to make the switch to bio-fuels, while reassuring farmers of the future security of the industry. We call on the Government to create a market for bio-fuels by legislating to provide that all motor fuels must include a blend of fuel from renewable sources. Such legislation will mandate that all petrol sold at filling stations will include a 5% bio-ethanol mix and all diesels will contain a 5% bio-diesel mix. It should remove all excise duty on bio-fuels produced from renewable energy crops and provide establishment grants for producer groups that would consist of up to 50% of the costs of setting up the group, subject to a maximum of €300,000 per group, in order that farmers can benefit directly from market returns.

There is little point in establishing a market unless we ensure that farmers get a share of the profits out of that manufacturing process which is not the case in many other areas of agriculture today. I urge Members to support Fine Gael's Bill. Climate change is a major global problem facing all of us. Global meltdown is a reality and urgent action is required. Developing practical and feasible solutions to climate change presents a serious challenge to all policy-makers and legislators. Tackling climate change is so important, so vital and urgent that it must go beyond petty political squabbling.

I urge Members and the Minister to think globally, act locally. Fine Gael's proposal is a step in the right direction. It is a straightforward measure that can have an immediate significant impact. I am not aware of any reason fuel blending cannot be introduced here. If the Government has any concerns over the working of this proposal, my party colleagues and I are more than willing to sit down and iron them out, after tonight, on Committee Stage. Tonight it is vital to accept the broad principle of this Bill. The Government can act now, support this Bill and kick-start the cleaning and greening of our environment.

I hope the Minister does not respond by saying that his statement yesterday is one of intent because the Government parties have had ten years to deal with this issue. They have had the past three years to deal with the fall-out from the closure of the sugar industry and have done nothing about that. The Government can allow political rivalries to kill this worthwhile proposal and wait until the EU forces Ireland to act on the issue. Stalling in the face of irreversible climate change and environmental pollution is no longer an option. I urge the Minister and his colleagues to accept the principle of the Bill. I commend the Bill to the House.

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