Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)

I understand the target set by the EU Commission for the production of biofuels is 10% by 2020. The European Parliament and its environment committee, which consists of members from across the political divide, voted to scale down the proposed EU-wide target of 10% by 2020 to 4% by 2015. Notwithstanding the 1,800 hectares of miscanthus planted, to which the Minister of State referred, we have moved from the planting of 137 hectares of energy crops in 2003 to just more than 9,000 hectares in 2007, which represents approximately 0.02% of all agricultural land. Teagasc has estimated that potentially 75,000 to 100,000 hectares of land could be devoted to energy crops in Ireland without impacting negatively on food production.

Are the targets that have been set realistic? Is the Government doing enough to encourage farmers to get into the business of growing crops for fuel? How will the food versus fuel debate impact on Ireland? What is the Government doing to encourage more farmers to diversify into such production? Is there a ready market available for fuel crops?

See this speech in context