Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The best definition of a bioeconomy is that it relates to the maximising of the use of renewable biological resources to produce value added products such as food and bioenergy. It extends across a range of sectors and disciplines, from what can be seen as quite traditional sectors such as farming and agrifood, as well as energy suppliers, to novel protein production and biopharmaceuticals. It is about using advances in technology to put renewable biological resources, including those which might previously have been discarded as by-products of waste, back into productive use. Biological resources could mean things such as crops, forest, fish, animals and their by-products, micro organisms and also industrial feed stock resources such as solid waste and wastewater. I hope that is in straightforward enough language to satisfy Deputies.

On the Government's actions, much of this is set out well in Project Ireland 2040. A decision to stop burning coal at Moneypoint in 2025 will see Ireland become one of the first countries in the world to take coal off its grid as a source of fuel. Between now and then, a decision will have to be made on what will replace it. It might be natural gas, which is a fossil fuel but is considered a transitional fuel in moving away from heavy carbon fuels, or it might be biomass. We must bear in mind that biomass must be largely imported and there are costs associated with that, including environmental costs where it has been transported over large distances. It could also displace other agriculture in Ireland, so we must consider that one consequences of growing more biomass in Ireland is that we have to grow less of other things.

We decided that, as of next year, the Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann will no longer buy vehicles for their fleets other than low or no emission vehicles. Peat will continue to be used as long as the public service obligation exists but we envisage that it will also come off the grid in time. We have indicated that in 2030, we will end the sale of diesel and petrol cars, preparing for their replacement by electric vehicles and other vehicles. As part of Project Ireland 2040, we have also committed to electrifying some of our busier existing train lines which will help to decarbonise our transport system.

Forestry was mentioned. It is correct that forest cover in Ireland is much lower than in other European countries but it has also increased considerably in recent decades as a result of the forestry programme. We have indicated that the forestry programme will continue and there will be a new programme on the completion of the current programme. Forestry acts as both a carbon sink as well as creating rural employment and, if managed correctly, can benefit tourism. We have also indicated the establishment of the climate action fund, a fund of over €500 million to support innovation in the area.

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