David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)

What degree of international liaison is going on in this area? Is the Minister aware of some very exciting research in the United States, for example, where they are producing biodiesel from algae not in the marine environment, but in tanks onshore using light energy? It is very exciting and advanced. Rather than reinventing the wheel, what type of international liaison is going on?

When we speak of using other materials for biofuels, has the Minister's Department or the Government looked again recently at sugar beet to produce ethanol? This crop was grown widely in Ireland and the technology and expertise exists. Does the Minister agree that it produces a very high return and it would be very worthwhile to investigate its possibilities?

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