Biofuel Must Be Home Grown – FG

Following a Government announcement obliging Irish fuel suppliers to include biofuels in their annual sales, Fine Gael have demanded that the additional fuel comes from Irish suppliers.

Under the scheme, fuel companies will have to provide an average of 4% biofuels to consumers from July next year to help reduce carbon emissions.

The move is also designed to generate an alternative, more secure energy supply to oil.

However, commenting on the Minister Eamon Ryan's announcement, Fine Gael Energy Spokesperson, Simon Coveney said the policy would only work in the context of producing that biofuel in Ireland.

"If we are forced to import the majority of biofuel, as is the case at present, then our biofuel strategy makes no sense financially or from an environmental perspective.

"If consumers are being asked to pay more for fuel with a biofuel content in an effort to reduce emissions, then that biofuel should be produced at home. Transporting large quantities of biofuel from South America or Africa resulting in a carbon footprint in transit makes a mockery of climate change policy."

In his original announcement, Minister Ryan had said the introduction of a biofuel percentage provided an opportunity for Irish farmers to "diversify into biofuels".

(DW/GK)