Written answers

Tuesday, 12 May 2009

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

EU Directives

8:00 pm

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 68: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding his commitment to the biofuels directive; the outcome of the public consultation process here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18708/09]

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans for the widespread introduction of biodiesel into the national road freight transport fleet; if he is funding initiatives in this respect; if he has directed State owned diesel fuelled vehicles to switch to biodiesel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14021/09]

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the difficulties faced by owners of cars run on bio-ethanol E85 due to the lack of petrol retailers offering this product; his further views on ensuring all petrol stations carry a minimum of bio-ethanol in order to encourage less dependence on fossil fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18703/09]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 68, 88 and 116 together.

The Programme for Government commits to the sustainable development of an Irish biofuels market in line with overall EU biofuel policy developments. Transport is one of the fastest growing sectors in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and biofuels offer one potential means to counter rising emissions levels in the sector. I am working with my ministerial colleagues to progressively introduce biofuels into appropriate State fleets.

The Government Programme also commits to the introduction of a Biofuels Obligation which will underpin delivery of the national biofuel targets and which will take account of EU developments. The introduction of a Biofuel Obligation will require all fuel suppliers to ensure that biofuels represent a certain percentage of their annual fuel sales. The biofuels obligation will provide a long-term market based framework for the development of a biofuels sector and delivery of biofuels targets to 2020. It will also enable market players to make appropriate investment decisions.

In light of the public consultation conducted last year my Department is finalising the details of the Biofuel Obligation Scheme. I intend to bring proposals to Government in the near future with a view to finalising and publishing legislation later in the year. It is my intention to introduce the Biofuel Obligation Scheme in 2010.

The Biofuels Obligation Scheme will provide for trading of certificates between suppliers. This will benefit those producers of high blend biofuels as they will have surplus certificates to trade with those suppliers bringing lower blends to the market. Biofuels are already being mainstreamed in blends of up to 5% at a number of existing petrol and diesel pumps as a result of the Mineral Oil Tax Relief Schemes introduced by my Department. E85 is also available at a number of service stations around the country. This is in addition to higher blends of Pure Plant Oil which are also available to the retail and commercial sectors.

By taking full account of the EU sustainability criteria, the Biofuels Obligation Scheme mechanism will have safeguards so that biofuels are sustainably sourced. It is expected that evolving second generation technologies will enable increased penetration rates without negative impacts on food prices. Given that biofuels will form an increasingly important component of European transport fuels, we have worked in Europe to ensure that the sustainability criteria are robust, effective and verifiable. Sustainability criteria are also the key to ensuring investment in more efficient biofuel production, and for investment in second generation biofuels.

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