Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I join Deputy Coveney in commending the officials on the work that has been done on this Bill, which is an extensive piece of legislation. We are a small Department but I believe we are a talented Department and take on important economic, security and environmental issues. This is an example of the work we do that is of a very high standard, and I want to commend the officials in particular on the work they have done in that regard.

It is important legislation and part of a series of measures towards a changed energy future for this country, one that is more dependent on our own natural resources and therefore more secure in terms of pricing and threats to the planet from emissions. In this Bill we are establishing the opportunity for Irish farming to have a new market to sell into, which is a crucial element in what we are doing. It has not been an easy market to get into. In any country there are sensitive issues around land use effects and food price effects of the development of biofuels. We must continue to be very alert to what is happening in that market but I believe the provisions set out in this legislation, which backs up what is happening in Europe, allows us do that in a sustainable way. I thank Members on all sides of the House for their assistance, in the Seanad as well as in the Dáil, in getting this Bill through the House.

On the other issue Deputy Coveney mentioned, namely, the introduction of a carbon levy, I was happy that the approach we were taking was appropriate. My officials had done a great deal of work clearing it and ensuring it was the right way to proceed but when the Whip told me last week that he would prefer if it were done in a separate Bill, I was happy to accept his viewpoint. I went to Cabinet this morning with a Bill set out in that manner containing the provisions we had intended to include in a Committee Stage amendment. That Bill is ready to go for publishing. I believe it takes a day or two to print and publish the Bill but that will be done immediately and I hope to get it into the Dáil as soon as possible, possibly next week. I appreciate Deputy Coveney's comments that he would be willing to facilitate the passage of the Bill, subject to amendments Deputies opposite may want to propose. I hope we will be able to get it passed by the Houses before the end of this term and therefore be able to implement our policy objective.

I am glad we have taken a major step in the right direction with our Energy (Biofuel Obligation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill and I thank the House for the help in that regard.

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