Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has reservations regarding Ireland's commitment to the Biofuels Directive in view of ethical concerns in relation to land use for biofuels, particularly in developing countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35609/07]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The challenge of sustainable global development of Biofuels is coming increasingly into focus. It is expected that the European Commission's forthcoming renewable energy legislative proposals, will contain targets for biofuels market penetration, subject to the introduction of sustainability criteria and the coming on stream of second-generation biofuels.

Ireland's biofuels obligation will take full account of EU sustainability initiatives in relation to biofuels and I intend to work very closely with my EU colleagues in addressing this highly complex challenge for biofuels policy to ensure that all biofuels placed on the European and Irish market are produced in a environmental sustainable manner.