Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)

I support the Bill, designed to reduce the incidence of ozone layer depletion, one of the greatest threats to humanity. The protection of the Earth's ozone layer has been one of the major challenges over the past 40 years. It spans the fields of environment, international co-operation and sustainable development.

In 1893 Rudolf Diesel was conscious of the dangers posed by the unfettered burning of fossil fuels. He built the first prototype diesel engine that ran on coal dust, but he wanted to design an engine that would run on vegetable oil. His dream still lives and bio-diesel is a simple chemical reaction involving alcohol, grease, fats and oils. All diesel engines built since 1992 can use bio-diesel without any need for modification.

Our dependence on petrol threatens our energy supply security, affects our environment and weakens our economy. Developing the technology to produce bio-fuels will create additional fuel supply options. This can impact positively on these issues and establish safe, clean and sustainable alternatives to petrol.

Nobody knows how long worldwide petroleum resources will last. We can be sure, however, that crude oil is a finite resource. With virtually 100% dependence on imported oil, our economy is particularly vulnerable to price hikes and severe energy disruptions. Producing and using fuels from renewable domestic biomass resources will help ease our dependence on foreign oil and reduce our vulnerability to these disruptions.

Only small numbers of hybrid cars powered by more energy efficient alternative fuels are in use. I welcome the recent introduction of an incentive to encourage motorists to change over to these vehicles. Fuels like ethanol and biodiesel burn with 80% less hydrocarbons and toxic metals than regular petrol. We should follow the lead of Austria and certain parts of the United States where public transport systems run on vegetable oils. This is the approach we should take. Instead of stories about the level of emissions from ministerial cars, we should begin to lead by example in this area.

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