Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 6:

In page 31, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following:

"(c) The Agency shall publish or commission a report on the impact of the bio fuels levy on—

(i) indigenous production of sustainable biofuels,

(ii) its impact on reducing the overall usage of fossil fuels in road transport, and

(iii) its impact on the food and land needs of the developing world.".".

This amendment seeks to compel the National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, to commission or compile a report on the impact of the scheme on the indigenous biofuels sector. The impact of the scheme could be quite different from its intention when, as is the case here, it relies on the market and competitiveness to ensure results. By imposing a levy that requires more biofuels to be used by road transport operators, we see an increase in such use. It is true that we now use more biofuels but there are unintended consequences of market reliance that are having a negative impact on many indigenous small-scale producers of biofuels. The market decided that importing the bulk of our requirements under the scheme was the most efficient way of doing it. A multiplicity of countries can be involved in the production of imported biofuels. For example, 94% of sugar cane used as a feedstock in the manufacture of bioethanol comes from Brazil while 100% of biodiesel produced from spent bleached earth comes from Malaysia. Are we saying that it is sustainable or the best environmental policy to import biofuels from these countries or even to import biodiesel produced by using US corn or wheat?

While it seems this policy is successful in light of the increase in the amount of biofuels being used, we do not see an overall reduction in the use of petrol or diesel. Our overall consumption increases in step with the increase in biofuels under this scheme. We need to reduce our consumption of all forms of fossil fuels and look to a truly sustainable source of renewable energy. Far from helping us achieve this goal, the market prevents us from achieving it. An economic system based on competition, the drive for profits and accumulation for the sake of it will never be environmentally friendly or reduce the overall levels of raw materials and energy we use.

Our amendment is simple. We understand the Minister's concern about the burden on NORA of compiling such reports. However, regardless of whether it is done indirectly or directly by NORA, it is important that we see how this scheme impacts on the two areas to which I refer in order that we can gauge the effectiveness or otherwise of our policies and see their consequences and whether they are delivering the goal of sustainability and combating climate change.

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