Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)

Can the Minister of State then explain why the Netherlands, in November 2006, introduced legislation which requires the compulsory blending of bio-fuels with diesel and petrol from 1 January 2007? Can I also ask why the State advisory service, Teagasc, differs from the Minister of State and the Minister on the feasibility of mandatory blending? In a report published on 3 February, Barry Casslin, the Teagasc energy systems specialist, stated that Germany has gone down the route of mandatory blending of a percentage of bio-fuel with conventional fossil fuel oil. This means that oil companies are not allowed to sell diesel unless it contains the required and certified percentage of biodiesel. A number of other European countries will also adopt this requirement.

France and Austria's obligations came into force in 2005, Slovenia's in 2006 while the Czech Republic and the Netherlands have announced the introduction of obligations in 2007. The British intend to introduce it in 2008. The Government comes out with this claptrap that we cannot do it because Brussels does not allow us but a long list of European countries have already started. The Government and its Ministers have been acting like a lapdog for Brussels, unprepared to put forward a positive position on behalf of the public.

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