Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 111 together.

The planned introduction of a bio-fuels obligation will require all fuel suppliers to ensure that bio-fuels represent a certain percentage of their annual fuel sales. The bio-fuels obligation is designed to provide a long-term market based framework for the development of a bio-fuels sector and delivery of bio-fuels targets to 2020.

The public consultation process on the bio-fuels obligation scheme has recently been completed. More than 30 submissions were received as part of the consultation process. My Department is now analysing these submissions with a view to finalising a bio-fuels obligation scheme informed by the consultation process. I will be bringing a proposal to Government in the coming months, including introduction of the necessary legislation to put the bio-fuels obligation in place by the end of 2010.

Ireland's national bio-fuels obligation scheme will take full account of EU and global developments on bio-fuels and related sustainability criteria. Ireland is working closely with the Commission and other member states to ensure all bio-fuels placed on the European and Irish market are produced in a manner that does not harm indigenous communities, does not give rise to food security issues and that delivers real and worthwhile savings in greenhouse gas emissions. The trilateral discussions between Parliament, Council and Commission are coming to a close, and I expect to see the item on the agenda for the Energy Council later this month.

This process provides a critical opportunity to set realistic and worthwhile criteria to govern the bio-fuels sector as we move towards our 2020 energy in transport targets. Given that bio-fuels will form an increasingly important component of European transport fuels in the coming years, it is absolutely vital that these criteria are not alone robust and effective in protecting those most at risk in the developing world, but also set the agenda for further investment in more efficient bio-fuel production, and for investment in second generation bio-fuels.

Sustainable bio-fuels will play an important part in delivering the 10% renewable energy target for transport fuels by 2020. Electric vehicles will also play a key role in this regard. Through the full application of the EU sustainability criteria, the bio-fuels obligation scheme mechanism will allow us to ensure the bio-fuel we use is sustainably sourced, and evolving technologies will allow us to increase the penetration rate without any impacts on food prices.

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