Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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67. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the apparent contradiction between policies to promote biofuels, on one hand, and hunger alleviation goals, on the other, in view of the concerns linking the increased demand for biofuels and the increase in food prices; his views on the European Commission's proposal to limit the use of crop based biofuels in transport by 2020 to 5%; if he will include this issue on the agenda of the upcoming Hunger Summit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23105/13]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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I share concerns that biofuel production, unless properly regulated, can have a negative impact on food production, and on food prices. The scale of the challenge of fighting global poverty and providing nutritious food for a growing population, in the context of a changing climate, was highlighted at the international Conference on Hunger Nutrition and Climate Justice which we organised in Dublin last month. My colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, takes the lead on Government policy in relation to biofuels and EU policy on biofuels, including the European Commission's proposal to limit the use of crop-based biofuels in transport to 5% by 2020.

The EU Renewable Energy Directive of 2009 requires that, by 2020, 10% of transport fuels should come from renewable sources. The Directive also provided that the ongoing effects of its implementation be monitored by the European Commission. Following a number of studies on the Directive's effects, in October 2012 the Commission published a proposal to amend the Renewable Energy Directive and the Fuel Quality Directive. The Commission included a proposal that the 10% quota be reduced to 5%. The proposal for a reduction to 5%, in conjunction with the incentives for advanced (next-generation) biofuels, signals the desire of the Commission to move towards the use of advanced biofuels made from feedstocks which do not compete with the production of food.

While Member States agree that the issue must be addressed, it is an extremely complex matter, and there is no agreement yet on the appropriateness of a 5% cap. The issue is currently being progressed at an ad hoc working group of the EU Energy and Environment Councils, with the objective of producing a progress report for the meetings of the Energy and Environment Councils in June 2013. The fight to end extreme hunger is, and will remain, a key priority for Ireland's international development programme, which is managed by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. We take a comprehensive approach in addressing the issue of hunger, including issues of good governance in respect of land use.

In the context of its G8 Presidency, the British Government is co-organising an important international meeting on hunger and nutrition in London on 8 June, on the theme 'Nutrition for Growth: Beating Hunger through Business and Science'. Ireland is a core partner in this initiative and the Taoiseach will participate, at the invitation of the British Prime Minister. The event will build on the Olympic Hunger Summit held at Downing Street in August 2012, which the Taoiseach also attended. The forthcoming event in London will focus specifically on under-nutrition, an often silent element of hunger which has devastating consequences. Over 40% of children under the age of five in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa are undernourished, putting them at greater risk of infection and death, and seriously limiting their ability to reach their full potential in school and in their countries and communities. I am determined that Ireland will continue our strong international advocacy and action to address hunger and undernutrition. In London, we will focus particularly on supporting efforts to harness public and private investment which will assist low income countries to address the challenge of undernutrition.