Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste. Does he know that the climate action committee, chaired by Deputy Leddin, who is from Limerick, has refused in writing to meet industries such as biofuel industries that want to use our natural products in this country? Is he aware that the excess biofuel produced in this country is exported? Biofuels can reduce our emissions from home heating if we mix them with home heating oil in the order of 50%. This would help where people have no alternatives, and they would still be doing their bit to reduce emissions. Can the Tánaiste put a structure in place with Gas Networks Ireland, the ESB and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland? In this way, so many could sell to the grid while playing their part in combating climate change.

The Tánaiste must support industry in a meaningful way with business support schemes and by building enterprise around the structures. What I propose is for people who have no alternatives. We are talking about a just transition, and this means bringing people with us. By using biofuels, we can reduce emissions using farmland when there are no alternatives. At present, there are none.

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