Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

These are complex technical issues which are, I understand, related. In the systems adopted by the countries to which the Deputy referred, a defining choice must be made about whether one discriminates against unrefined ethanol products versus refined products. I understand that refined ethanol can be transported from Brazil to Europe, whereas unrefined ethanol would not survive such a long journey. A number of European countries, of which Germany, I understand, is one, have introduced a requirement that bio-fuel imports must be non-refined. In so doing, they have protected sources of domestic production. My Department has met a number of those who are examining this complex and difficult issue. A difficulty is that if a similar requirement was in place here, we would have to import bio-fuels from European sources, rather than Brazil and it is not certain that such circumstances would be better for Irish farming.

While the Department is open to considering various regimes, I am reluctant to follow a particular course until the European Union publishes or establishes sustainability criteria. It would be best to administer the system on the basis of continuing review to ensure it supports indigenous producers. How one does this is not as clear or simple as following a German or British model.

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