Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

I thank the Minister for that reply and look forward to the debate on the criteria because it is a matter of great concern. Targets have been set by the Government and by the EU. The EU Commission has stated it will not change those targets yet at the same time we are getting information from bodies as diverse as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank stating the production of bio-fuels is responsible for approximately 30% of the problems relating to food prices, to Oxfam Ireland which is proposing that we change our targets. At the same time motorists who have invested in cars using bio-fuels are complaining they cannot easily access the fuels because it is difficult to get them on garage forecourts and the outlets are few and far between.

The Minister is saying we cannot say whether, in importing bio-fuels, we are participating in and encouraging the use of land in a destructive way that should be used for food production. Is he saying we are powerless when it comes to importing? It would be useful to know how much we currently import.

On the EU Presidency discussions, I am aware the Slovenian President set up a working group on this area and Ireland participates in that working group. What view are we expressing to our European colleagues? The Minister said we must have a debate but food shortages are happening now and it appears to me that from the point of view of policy the response is very vague in terms of the way the Government is addressing what is literally a burning issue.

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