Written answers

Tuesday, 10 July 2018

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

EU Directives

Photo of Timmy DooleyTimmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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767. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the engagements and representations he has made in regard to the EU's review of the oil stocks directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30494/18]

Photo of Denis NaughtenDenis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The Commission’s proposals around amendments to Directive 2009/119/EC, known as the Oil Stocks Directive, are currently being considered by the Oil Stocks Directive Committee, set up under Article 23 of the Directive, in which Ireland is participating.

As things stand the amendments proposed by the Commission are as follows:

- To change the date on which member states are obliged to have in place oil stocks reserves corresponding to 90 days of net imports from 1st April to 1st July annually. Ireland's position is that while we are consistently able to meet the 1st April deadline, we recognise that it does pose difficulties for other member states in terms of their administration. For this reason we support this amendment

- To change the rules under which an allowance is made for naphtha yield when calculating the stock holding obligation of member states. Naphtha is a by-product of the refining process which may be used as a feedstock for further refining or in the petrochemical industry. The current methodology for taking into account naphtha yield is leading to large fluctuations in some member states stockholding obligations from one year to the next. Ireland's annual naphtha yield of approximately 3% does not subject the State to such fluctuations in its obligations. Given that the proposed technical changes in the methodology will have no impact on Ireland’s stock holding obligation and in recognition of the difficulties experienced by some member states, Ireland supports the Commission’s proposal in this area.

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