Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

This approach to questions means one's ignorance can be exposed quickly and my knowledge of seaweed is limited, other than a lifelong career pass in Kilkieran where there is a seaweed processing business which extracts nutrients and iodine, in particular, for use in industrial processing. The bio-fuels strategy we are following encourages the development of such second generation technologies. Our bio-fuels obligations scheme gives incentives to the development of such technologies and the obligations will be adjusted accordingly regarding what suppliers must do. In this circumstance, it is no harm to go hand in hand with Europe on policy formulation because it provides a wider market and a scientific certainty that also helps. When standards are being set on bio-fuels, it is difficult for a country of our size with a relatively limited seaweed capacity, even though we have a long coastline. It is much better to do this in co-operation with other countries.