Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

We were talking about this outside the Chamber earlier. I have family members who have classic cars - Renaults and Ford Anglias. It is something that I have great affection for.

The move to E10 this year is one of several transport measures that will achieve a 50% reduction in transport emissions by 2030. Details of the move were set out in the Renewable Fuels for Transport Policy Statement November 2021. The latter outlines the pathway to the achieve climate action plan targets and European obligations concerning sustainability and greenhouse gas reduction criteria for renewable energy in transport. The policy sets out that the renewable transport fuel blending obligation rate - provided for under Part 5A of the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007 - will be achieved through increasing the biofuel blending rate to E10, 10% Ethanol, and B20, 20% biodiesel equivalent, as set out in Climate Action Plan 2023, with an interim target of 2025 in respect of both.Renewable transport fuels such as bioethanol remain a core transitional technology relied upon for the medium-term reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the road transport sector, accounting for 1.08 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent of the transport sector decarbonisation target to be achieved by 2030 under the climate action plan of 2023.

In 2022, approximately 307 million litres – 9.6 PJ – of biofuel was placed on the market. Following statutory consultation on the draft regulations and the consideration of responses and stakeholder feedback, the Minister for Transport made regulations to move to E10 petrol through specifying the minimum percentage volume of ethanol to be blended with petrol placed on the market by sale or otherwise in the State by renewable transport fuel obligation account holders and provide for the move to the E10 – containing up to 10% bioethanol – petrol standard in Ireland. The regulations will be fully operational by 1 July 2023 and will be kept under review by the Minister in the context of the development and implementation of the renewable transport fuel policy.

Moving to E10 will result in an immediate climate-change mitigation measure using the existing vehicle fleet. Since 2009, E10 petrol, as standard, has been rolled out across 15 European countries, as well as in the US and Australia. All petrol vehicles can operate on an E10 petrol blend and it is safe to do so. In some vehicles from before 2011, and predominantly from before 2003, the sustained use of E10 may result in more frequent maintenance – of engine seals and hoses, for example – but it does not mean they cannot use it. In countries where E10 and higher ethanol blends are used widely for a prolonged period, there is no evidence of issues. All vehicle owners and operators are required to maintain their vehicles to operating and roadworthiness standards.

Maintaining an E5 petrol grade is not in line with the policy objective under the climate action plan for E10 by 2025. Suppliers do not have the storage or distribution systems to supply both E5 and E10 petrol grades or a higher octane petrol grade. After 1 July, when the regulations will be fully operational, the specialist supply of E5 will still be possible in the market if the demand emerges, but such supply will just not be eligible for certificates under the renewable transport fuel obligation.

The annual decrease in the number of petrol cars, along with the increased uptake of zero-emission vehicles, is likely to reduce the number of affected vehicles even further over the next decade. I acknowledge the Senator is referring to classic and vintage cars. Ireland's vehicle fleet is predominantly diesel, amounting to 63%, and among the 1 million petrol vehicles there is a very small proportion of older vehicles, amounting to 2.4%, including vintage, and less than 1% classic.

To ensure public awareness of the change, the Department of Transport is continuing to run an E10 public information campaign, through advertising at forecourts and on print, radio, digital and social media platforms. The website www.gov.ie/E10is the main point of reference for further information and will continue to be in advance of the move to E10. Further information concerning individual vehicle types can be obtained in operating manuals and on vehicle manufacturers' websites, or inside the fuel cap of newer vehicles.