Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 635: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on correspondence (details supplied); the meetings he or his Department has had with his ministerial European colleagues or Commissioners on the matter; if actions or proposals have been made or completed or are contemplated as a result of such meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17364/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The social and environmental sustainability concerns raised by the Irish Missionary Union reflect the agreed need to ensure that biofuel production and utilisation is fully sustainable. The European Commission's Renewable Energy Directive proposes a 10% target for biofuels by 2020, backed up by proposals for stringent sustainable criteria. Together with other Member States, Ireland fully supports the sustainability imperative in relation to biofuels policy. Biofuels are a key part of the EU's strategy to reduce dependence on oil use in transport. Equally, the economic and environmental impacts of biofuels use need to be understood and addressed. We are working with the Commission and Member States in the Committee on Sustainability Criteria for Biofuels to ensure that the necessary sustainability criteria backed up by efficient administrative and reporting arrangements are put in place by the EU to underpin biofuels production and use.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 636: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the obstacles that currently prevent microproducers of energy such as apartment buildings from selling the energy they produce back to the national grid; the action he will take on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17399/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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There are a number of challenges to be addressed as we work to facilitate the widespread adoption of micro-generation. A key challenge is the absence of commercial arrangements for export of surplus electricity. The new micro generation programme which I announced recently, to be operated by Sustainable Energy Ireland, is designed to address the challenges.

The new programme includes a range of analysis of the challenges together with field trials of additional technologies to inform policy development in relation to micro-generation. The first element of the programme to be commissioned in the coming weeks will be an examination of the options for commercial arrangements for small-scale generators which will include an assessment of the options for payment for exported electricity. Decisions in relation to further action to stimulate the widespread deployment of microgeneration will be taken in light of the results of the SEI programme.