Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

That is my reading of the situation and, in spite of my slight Dublin accent, I am from a rural background so I was concerned about the bad situation in which many farmers found themselves.

Why does the Minister not mandate some of his officials to develop a clear plan to implement a bio-fuels obligation? He spoke about a long period of consultation but it is too late for that. Perhaps the next Government can embark on consultation. The Minister strongly condemned the Private Members' Bill yesterday but he has brought forward no initiatives on bio-fuels. It has been left to Opposition spokespersons, such as our Fine Gael colleagues and us in the Labour Party, to hound the Minister in Dáil Éireann to establish concrete measures for advancing bio-fuels and other forms of renewable energy. I cannot see why he is criticising this Bill and why it could not be adopted in principle.

We also heard on radio concerns being raised about vehicles. The Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources is an expert on the area but there were interesting reports on problems faced by motorists who wish to convert their cars to run on bio-fuels and the problems with warranties when buying a car. I do not know if the Minister held any talks with car makers. If not, he should do so. Certainly, the Minister for Transport never talks to them.

I compliment Fine Gael and Deputy Naughten on introducing this Bill and I hope it will be a first step on the road to a more comprehensive legislative framework for the development of bio-fuels which, hopefully, we will be involved in during the next Dáil.

See this speech in context