Rónán Mullen (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to take my Commencement matter. I know it is not directly within his brief; it has more to do with ethanol reform than electoral reform.To the extent that vintage, classic and veteran cars might be affected, maybe it comes in some way under the heading of heritage.

I have spoken on many occasions about the fact that successive Governments have often taken what I think is a self-defeating approach to new measures aimed combating climate change. Measures often almost seem to be designed to rub people up the wrong way or to punish them for living their everyday lives as much as to reduce emissions, etc. This only serves in my view to reduce public support for new policies designed to help the environment which, as opinion polls have often shown, is very low among the public.

Another example of what I am talking about occurred recently when the regulations were published to move Ireland's standard blend of unleaded petrol from E5 to E10. As the Minister of State will be aware, these figures of "5" and "10" refer to the percentage of bioethanol which is blended into the petrol. An increased percentage results in lower carbon emissions, or so we are told. This has already been rolled out in 15 other EU member states. However, there is a big problem which I do not believe the Government has properly addressed so far, which is that many vehicles cannot or should not use the E10 blend, either because their engines were not designed for it or because their engines are susceptible to damage by the E10 blend.

In a press release on 25 February last announcing the change, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, rather blithely stated: "E10 will mean that no vehicle changes are needed to get immediate results for the environment. " He also stated: "All vehicles can operate on an E10 petrol blend." That is not the case. In the very same press release, the Minister referred to a UK Government website which lists a range of makes and models that cannot handle the E10 blend. These include: Ford Mondeos manufactured as recently as 2007; a range of Renaults from as recently as 2003; nine separate models of Volkswagen from 2005; and Fiat Puntos and Fiat Bravos from the same period. I say that these are relatively recent years because many people drive older cars. Obviously, these are not salubrious or high-powered cars. They are standard models used by ordinary people. I do not know, to be honest, how many of these cars are still in use in Ireland but given how common these car makes are, there must be a significant number. I was approached by a person who drives a 2006 Lexus JS300, which, he told me at the time, is one of the few cars that cannot run on E10. This is according to both Lexus and the EU.

We also have the issue that the E10 blend can be damaging, as I have said, to vintage, veteran or classic cars - the older cars - because the higher level of bioethanol absorbs more water into the engine of these cars causing them to corrode. The Irish Vintage Scenemagazine has a piece about this issue on its website. It states: "it will corrode all traditional fuel lines made of brass, copper or rubber, unless the rubber has been upgraded to deal with unleaded fuels. It also degrades aluminium in carburettors and pistons." Ominously, the Minister stated last February: "All vehicle owners and operators are required to maintain their vehicles to operating and roadworthy standards." In other words, it is tough luck on the owners of vintage or veteran cars. If they have a problem with this, they will have to fork out to get their cars upgraded. That is not good enough. It shows a trend of tending to penalise ordinary people rather than working to get their support for climate change measures. If there is a solution, we should be hearing much more about it from the Government.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | 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.

Rónán Mullen (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I do not blame the Minister of State for having to deliver this answer. It is very unsatisfactory. The Government is persisting in echoing what I believe was the erroneous statement of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, that vehicles would not be affected. Is there an element of spin in saying it is safe to use E10? Nobody is saying the cars that do not take E10 are going to blow up but the additional ethanol would destroy aluminium and rubber fuel lines. To say it is simply a matter more frequent maintenance is erroneous. In other countries, provision was made for the limited availability of the E5 blend for those who need it for older and vintage cars. Why could that not be done here? Even if there were additional fuel duties on the E5, it could work. The supply should not be closed off completely. To pretend people's engines will not be damaged is simply wrong. Is it yet another case of saying, "To hell with you if you are in the small minority who will be affected because we are not going to bend." If that is the attitude, it is not going to improve people's attitude towards climate-mitigation measures.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is not the case. Of the 77 responses from the consultation on the move to E10, more than 60 were received from classic car owners or enthusiasts in classic vehicle clubs. Many of the respondents were supportive of the move to E10. There probably are issues. In this regard, I mentioned possible corrosion. There is still an opportunity owing to there still being a limited supply of E5. Additives can be put in fuel to mitigate the potential impact. There is no longer-term damage to-----

Rónán Mullen (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That was not part of the Minister of State's official answer, though.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There is an additive that can be used, and there is a public awareness campaign. It is important to engage. The experience in other countries has not been negative.