Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 480: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent of the discussions he has had with his EU colleagues to co-ordinate action throughout the EU to promote the use of alternative energy production and discourage the activity of speculators in the energy sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41884/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The EU's Climate Change and Renewable Energy Package launched in January 2008 proposed a number of Directives with the aim of delivering on the European Union's targets for emission reduction and renewable energy by 2020. I worked closely with my EU Ministerial colleagues in the Energy Council and Commissioner Piebalgs throughout last year to reach agreement on the Renewable Energy Directive. The outcome, agreed in December 2008, sets an excellent framework for delivery on Europe's renewable energy objectives and was satisfactory from Ireland's perspective.

Under the new framework Directive covering the electricity, heat and transport sectors each Member State must achieve a binding individual national target by 2020 with the aim of contributing to the overall EU target of 20% of renewable energy consumption in the EU energy mix by 2020. In the transport sector, a minimum target of 10% of renewables (including biofuels and electric vehicles) is set for each Member States. The best way to reduce Ireland's potential exposure to any speculation in global fossil fuel markets is to significantly increase the use of renewable energy sources and deliver on energy efficiency improvements.