Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 383: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources further to Parliamentary Question No. 510 of 10 February 2009, if he will supply all of the information sought but not provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9045/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Some of the information sought by the Deputy is not available. While there are a number of general requirements around the production and use of biofuels, no specific licences are required from any Department or Agency for the production of biofuels. I therefore have no function with regard to the "licensing" of either the production or use of biofuels.

There are a number of statutory requirements around planning and environmental control, which need to be met for the establishment of any production facility in this State. Equally, there are a number of quality requirements that need to be met before fuel is offered for sale and the requirements of the Revenue Commissioners would also need to be complied with for anyone setting up production facilities. Similarly, there are a number of environmental considerations around the use of biofuels, issues which are the responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Environment Heritage and Local Government.

My primary focus in the coming months is the introduction of the Biofuels Obligation, which will require all fuel suppliers to ensure that biofuels represent a certain percentage of their annual fuel sales. The biofuels obligation is designed to provide a long-term market based framework for the sustainable development of a biofuels sector and delivery of biofuels targets to 2020. Under the Biofuels Obligation Scheme, suppliers will be compelled to use biofuels in the fuel mix, providing a valuable boost to the biofuels industry generally and providing the market stability that the industry so badly needs. I intend to bring proposals to Government as soon as possible with a view to progress the necessary legislation required in order that the Biofuels Obligation is introduced in 2010.