Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 1447: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if a formal consultation on bio-fuels obligation was launched in 2007 as stated in his introductory brief; when this consultation will report; if the consultation will take into account recent international developments indicating the potential environmental damage of large-scale bio-fuels cultivation; and his views on the future of bio-fuels. [1764/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I intend to launch the public consultation process on the proposed Biofuels Obligation shortly. The outcome of the consultative process will inform the design and implementation of the Biofuels obligation.

The Energy Commission has recently published its proposals for a new Directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, which include the minimum mandatory target of 10% market penetration of biofuels in transport in all Member States by 2020. The Commission's proposals in relation to biofuels underline the imperative of sustainability and sets out a range of environmental sustainability criteria which would be mandatory and subject to verification.

Emissions from transport continue to rise and promoting the increased sustainable use of biofuels in transport will play a vital role in reducing the level of greenhouse gas emissions and energy intensity in the transport sector. Ireland's national biofuels obligation will take full account of EU developments in relation to biofuels and related sustainability concerns. I intend to work very closely with my EU colleagues in the negotiation of the Directive to ensure that all biofuels placed on the European and Irish market are produced in line with all appropriate sustainability criteria.