Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am very glad to hear the Minister is considering a strong interpretation of the directive. Of course the directive should not set the ceiling but should be the start of what we want in our ambition. I certainly agree that 2030 is far too late to wait and it will be a major issue next year. We really need to be looking for this exit and I hope we see it in the lifetime of the Government at an absolute minimum.

Will the Minister give me a little assurance not so much directly related to palm oil as a feedstock but on the question of used cooking oil? This is oil that purports to be environmentally sound because it is being used a second time. The very nice original concept is that oil which has already been used for cooking is used again as fuel. We know that investigations by EurActiv and many others have pointed to a serious concern whereby in many cases what is marketed as used cooking oil is, in fact, palm oil. Implausible amounts of used cooking oil emerge, which are far ahead of what could credibly be produced in countries if every single drop of oil used in cooking was counted and then trebled. I appreciate the Minister's points on the directive. Will he make a comment on the specific issue of used cooking oil which is, in many cases, palm oil? The Minister does not have to go into detail but perhaps he will indicate whether he plans to look at the issue of double counting of used cooking oil in biodiesel.