Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

My primary ministerial responsibility regarding bio-fuels is in the energy context and consequently in the production of bio-fuels to increase penetration in the transport sector. While I have no specific responsibility for the production of petrochemicals for industrial processes, I am aware that second generation biomass conversion technologies could, over time, provide a suitable fuel and product for both sectors.

I am giving major priority to the accelerated development of energy research, technology development and innovation to underpin energy policy goals, including bio-energy development and deployment. The development this year of a comprehensive Energy Research Strategy 2008-2013 overseen by the Irish Energy Research Council will set out the overall priorities.

The recently announced Charles Parsons awards included funding for biomass-related research. Under this programme, funding of almost €12 million is being provided to four universities on the island of Ireland for the purposes of accelerating research in several energy-related areas including biomass. This research will give us valuable information under Irish climatic conditions which will inform policy on the optimisation of land use for biomass purposes.

Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI, is also supporting research work in second generation technologies through, for example, grant aid to an Irish university which is involved in an EU framework programme 6 project investigating the development of biomass-to-liquid, BTL. In BTL, biomass is converted to synthesis gas through gasification and the synthesis gas can be subsequently transformed to liquid fuel.

The emphasis on the production of ethanol in the bio-fuels mineral oil tax relief scheme II supports the building of expertise in ethanol production in Ireland. This could have long-term benefits for the production and blending of second generation bio-fuels which use similar but more complex technologies and processes. A total of 11 applications were received under the bioethanol category in the second mineral oil tax relief scheme and four of these were successful in being awarded excise relief up to 2010. This will allow for the production of 306 million litres of bioethanol up to 2010.

As a contracting party to the International Energy Agency, IEA, bioenergy implementing agreement, Ireland has signed up to participate in task 39, which deals with developments in liquid bio-fuels and particularly second generation technology. Ireland has also signed up as an observer to the new IEA bioenergy implementing agreement, task 42, which deals specifically with biorefineries. These international linkages position us well to monitor and benefit from international developments in this field and to identify appropriate applications for the Irish context.

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