Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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111. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Ireland has achieved the required reduction of 6% in greenhouse gas intensity as required under the EU fuel quality directive as mandated by the end of 2020; if not, the penalties being imposed on fuel suppliers that have not complied with the reduction in greenhouse gas intensity requirements; and the estimated likely return to the Exchequer from these penalties in 2021 and subsequent years until compliance is achieved. [5370/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Article 7a of the Fuel Quality Directive placed an onus on transport fuel suppliers to achieve at least a 6 percent reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions in fuel and energy placed on the market by the end of 2020 and in subsequent years, compared to a 2010 baseline.

This requirement was transposed into Irish law by the European Union (Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions, Calculation Methods and Reporting Requirements) Regulations 2017 (SI 160 of 2017 ). In line with decisions taken at EU level, SI 160 of 2017 was recently amended by S.I. No. 670/2020 (European Union (Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions, Calculation Methods and Reporting Requirements) (Amendment) Regulations 2020) to ensure the 6% reduction requirement continues past 2020.

Under these regulations, the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) is designated as the competent body responsible for implementation of Article 7a.  NORA estimates that an overall carbon intensity reduction of approximately 3% will be achieved for 2020.

The Fuel Quality Directive and the Renewable Energy Directive are currently being reviewed at EU level in terms of aligning transport energy targets with the European Green Deal. With these reviews on-going and given that compliance under the FQD will continue beyond 2020 a decision was taken not to impose penalties under the regulations with respect to 2020.

The Department will continue to assess and review policy and legislative requirements for how we maximise decarbonisation efforts for the transport fuel sector. In this regard it should be noted that any payment of penalties to be pursued under the relevant regulations will be retained by NORA.