Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there will be more regulation on diesel engines with regards to the recent report published by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organisation, which recommends more stringent regulations, specifically for diesel engines, which required changes in the fuel such as marked decreases in sulphur content, changes in engine design to burn diesel fuel more efficiently and reductions in emissions through exhaust control technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33789/12]

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government considering the report published by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organisation, if there will be specific regulations regarding exposure to diesel fumes, similar to those regulating exposure to asbestos; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33790/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 157 together.

My Department's responsibility for fuel quality standards arises from the perspective of ensuring that petrol and diesel sold in the State meet prescribed environmental specifications to reduce the polluting effect that certain substances have on the environment, when emitted to air as part of the fuel combustion process. This primarily relates to emissions from engines in non-road mobile machinery.

Directive 98/70/EC relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels is transposed in Ireland through the European Communities Act, 1972 (Environmental specifications for petrol, diesel fuels and gas oils for use by non-road mobile machinery, including inland waterway vessels, agricultural and forestry tractors, and recreational craft) Regulations 2011 . The regulations require that, from 1 January 2011, gas oil marketed for use in non-road mobile machinery must contain no more than 10 milligrams of sulphur per kilogram of fuel (commonly referred to as 10 parts per million or ppm). This compares to the previous sulphur content limit of 1,000 ppm. The new 10 ppm fuel standard was developed in order to reduce emissions of particulate matter, exposure to which is known to be harmful to human health. Furthermore, engines in all new non-road mobile machinery placed on sale in the EU after 1 January 2011 are fitted with new abatement technology to meet the stricter emission standards and have been designed to operate using only low sulphur 10 ppm gas oil.

An European Commission proposal to reduce the maximum sulphur content of marine fuel is nearing completion. The proposal, for the most part, aligns EU legislation with the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (known as the MARPOL Convention). Ireland is party to MARPOL and has already implemented most provisions of the proposal through legislation under the aegis of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport . Emissions from road vehicles are regulated by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), which also operates under the aegis of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. In this context, the RSA has prepared information notes, entitled Euro IV, Euro V and VI Emissions Regulations for Heavy Duty Vehicle and The Introduction of Euro 5 and Euro 6 Emissions Regulations for Light Passenger and Commercial Vehicles, which are available to download from their website: www.rsa.ie.