Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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321. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of the potential fraud involved in the use of used cooking oil and palm oil effluent as products in renewable fuels, and the concerns of many involved in the renewable fuels industry that the large increase in the use of these products is having a detrimental impact on renewable fuel producers in Ireland, and may also be adding to environmental destruction of forest in Asia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15749/25]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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322. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plan to ensure that the EU maximum of 1.7% inclusion of Annex B products under the renewable fuels targets is adhered to; what actions his Department will take to insure that the current volumes of palm oil mill effluent and used cooking oils are examined and compliant with EU regulations, and also correctly audited and certified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15750/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 321 and 322 together.

It is essential that biofuel imports are required to meet the sustainability criteria under the EU Renewable Energy Directive for the purpose of environmental protection and emissions reduction, while ensuring that EU biofuel producers are not disadvantaged and promoting further development of advanced biofuel production within the EU.

The concerns with regard to sustainability of biofuel produced from POME and UCO are EU-wide and not specific to Ireland. The European Commission within the committee established under the Renewable Energy Directive is consulting with Member States on the system for sustainable certification, finalisation of the Union database for tracing biofuel supply, and prevention of fraud cases.

The National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) is responsible for ensuring compliance by fuel suppliers with the EU sustainability criteria and requirements for renewable transport fuel placed on the market under the statutory Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO). This compliance is assured through an EU sustainability certification framework, involving certification of economic operations globally (for feedstock collection, biofuel production, storage and supply) by certification bodies against standards established under EU approved Voluntary Schemes. The NORA provides ongoing assurance on the sustainability of the current supply of biofuel to Ireland under the RTFO.

Based upon its analysis, indicating concerns of possible biofuel fraud risk in global supply of palm oil mill effluent (POME), the NORA has recommended the removal of national incentives under the RTFO for POME-derived biofuel products. I have therefore approved the commencement of a statutory consultation process for draft regulations to exclude POME from the award of additional RTFO certificates, with the publication of draft regulations for consultation in the coming weeks.

NORA has also recommended further steps that could be taken to limit the amount of POME derived biofuel supply into Ireland considering the concerns raised through its analysis. These options are being assessed by my Department within the current legal framework.

With regard to biofuels produced from UCO, the recently expanded list of biofuel feedstocks listed in Annex IX Part B of the Directive, and anti-dumping measures on imported biofuels introduced by the EU Commission in 2025, provide a guardrail against the possibility of unsustainable 'Part B' biofuels supply into the Union. The NORA recorded a notable reduction in the supply of UCO-derived biofuel between 2022 and 2023. The supply of UCO-derived biofuel has therefore not triggered an analysis by NORA similar to that conducted in relation to POME, or any recommendation in that regard.

Specifically concerning the Renewable Energy Directive limit of 1.7% share of share of biofuel from Annex IX Part B feedstocks within the calculation of the renewable energy share in transport (RES-T), this limit is adhered to in Ireland's annual reporting to the EU.

There is no limit within the Renewable Energy Directive on the contribution of 'Part B' biofuel to the overall renewable energy share of energy consumption in the State, i.e. across all economic sectors within the Directive scope. Furthermore, the Climate Action Plan incentivises biofuel blends in diesel supply in transport consumption up to a target 20% by 2030, with biofuels contributing to a projected 13.7% of overall transport sector carbon reduction by 2030 under the Plan.

Within this context, the Renewable Energy Directive 1.7% limit on 'Part B' biofuel means that in order for Ireland to meet the 2030 RES-T target as set out in the Directive, alternatives such as renewable electricity in transport, advanced biofuel (produced from Annex IX Part A), and supply of renewable fuels of non-biological origin would need to be further incentivised.

Consideration is being given by my Department to further incentives in this regard, namely, increased sub-target obligation for supply of advanced biofuel and renewable fuels of non-biological origin, and the award of RTFO certificates for supply of renewable electricity at public charge points.

The Renewable Energy Directive also makes provision for a Member State to apply to increase the 1.7% limit on 'Part B' biofuel. Such an application would need to be supported by evidence, and the assessment of the merits of an application by the Commission may require EU-wide data on biofuel supply which will be available on the Union Database when finalised.

My Department is currently developing a draft Renewable Transport Fuel Policy 2025-2027, which will address these policy implementation challenges. The draft Policy will be published for consultation in the coming weeks.