Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I agree with the setting of targets for the blending of bio-fuels with petrol and diesel. However, to do so in the absence of a plan to promote the bio-fuel industry in Ireland is a mistake. The Minister has done half the job. He has not provided a plan to deliver significant bio-fuel production in the domestic market. Importing ethanol or bio-fuel from Brazil or other parts of the world does nothing for energy security.

How many of the 18 projects for which the Minister's Department provided excise relief have resulted in bio-fuel production in Ireland? How many resulted in bio-fuel factories or production facilities in Ireland? The Minister says 2% of our fuel this year will be bio-fuel. This is about 110 million litres. How much of that is produced in Ireland?

How many planning permissions have been granted for bio-fuel production facilities, which will have to provide a 4% bio-fuel content in petrol and diesel? That will be the equivalent of approximately 220 million litres going into our cars, trucks and so on. How much of that will come from Irish production facilities?

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