Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

Growing concerns are being expressed internationally about the consequences of increased global demand for bio-fuels for global food stocks as well as a range of sustainability concerns. Developments in European Union policy relating to bio-fuels must take account of these concerns and this is recognised by the Commission and all member states.

Ireland is currently working to deliver the target of 5.75% penetration of bio-fuels by 2010. The EU Commission's new renewable energy directive proposes a minimum mandatory target for all member states of 10% market penetration of bio-fuels in transport by 2020. The directive is currently under discussion with a view to Council agreement by end 2008. The Government is committed to existing targets, but they must be set in the context of a framework for robust sustainability criteria regarding production and deployment. The Commission has proposed such a framework in the new renewable energy directive.

The criteria proposed by the Commission aim to ensure that bio-fuels deployed by member states are produced in a sustainable way. They must not contribute towards the degradation of the natural environment, notably the destruction of forests, wetlands or long established grassland. The criteria will also set strict targets for bio-fuels in terms of the greenhouse gas emissions they must save before they can be considered eligible as counting towards national targets.

As things stand currently, the feed stocks used for bio-fuel production by member states are generally sourced on the open internationally traded commodities market with little or no information about their origins.

It is only by setting stringent sustainability criteria that member states will be able to verify the source of these fuels, and mitigate the cumulative effect of unsustainable practices. I fully support the Commission's work to ensure member states agree a rigorous sustainability framework under the new directive. Monitoring, verification and compliance will be critical to the effectiveness of the sustainability criteria. Moreover, these criteria will place a premium on more sustainable bio-fuels, further encouraging investment in second generation bio-fuels. These fuels, made from non-food crops, are much more productive in terms of fuel produced per hectare and do not have a direct effect on food prices.

My Department is also supporting the development of second generation bio-fuels through the Charles Parsons research awards announced last year.

I will shortly be launching the public consultation on the proposed bio-fuels obligation as set out in the programme for Government. In that context, EU developments on bio-fuels policy, in light of the emerging concerns in respect of sustainability, will be fully factored in and will be publicly debated. The recent introduction by the United Kingdom of a bio-fuels obligation will also be closely monitored by us for lessons to be learned.

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