Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 152: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if, in respect of the recent announcement of a procurement competition for new Ministerial cars by the Government Supplies Agency, he will indicate the fuel types selected; the proportion of cars that are run on biofuels or hybrid technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22067/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Government Supplies Agency (GSA) awarded drawdown contracts in September 2007 to cover the purchase of 18 large executive saloon cars for the Ministerial fleet. This tender competition was for diesel-engined vehicles. Contracts were awarded for the following vehicles:

BMW 525d SE Saloon

Audi A6 3.0 TDI SE

Citroen C6 2.7 Hdi TGV

Volvo S80 D5 SE

All of these cars have the capacity for the inclusion of biodiesel in the fuel mixture. To date there has been one purchase from the above competition — an Audi A6.

Prior to the present competition a total of eight vehicles were purchased since January 2006 under GSA contract for use by Ministers. Of these, 7 were powered by hybrid Petrol/Electric engines (5 Lexus and 2 Prius) and 1 — an Audi A6 — with a traditional petrol engine.