I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Ossian Smyth.
Oil Emergency Contingency and Transfer of Renewable Transport Fuels Functions Bill 2023: Second Stage
Question proposed: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."
I am pleased to address the House on the Oil Emergency Contingency and Transfer of Renewable Transport Fuels Functions Bill 2023. I thank Senators for the opportunity to present this Bill. The main purpose of the Bill is to strengthen the statutory provisions available to Government to respond to a severe or prolonged oil emergency in the context of ensuring adequate supplies for the emergency and critical services. Progress continues to be made in increasing the use of renewable fuels and electrification within transport and in replacing oil use in heating in accordance with the climate action plan. Also, reductions in petroleum product use will be further driven by the carbon budgets and sectoral emissions ceilings.
Notwithstanding this progress, the State continues to be reliant on oil to a significant extent. Senators will be aware that the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications monitors the security of oil supply into the State. In the context of the tightening of supplies in the European oil markets which are primarily caused by the way in Ukraine, this monitoring of the oil markets is currently being undertaken in accordance with the national energy security framework through the oil supply subgroup of the energy security emergency group.
An adequate supply of refined product is currently available in the domestic markets and the State's strategic oil reserves provide a strong buffer against an oil emergency. However, the Department, in common with many EU member states and as requested by the European Commission, is currently reviewing and strengthening its oil emergency contingency planning resources.
I will first provide an overview of the most important measures that the Bill addresses before discussing them in more detail. The Bill amends the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007 to place a statutory requirement on the Minister to produce an oil emergency response plan. It also provides for the establishment of an oil suppliers' emergency register to allow for timely communication between the Minister and oil suppliers during an oil emergency. Provision is also made for the transfer of oil-related excise data from the Revenue Commissioners to the Minister to assist in oil emergency contingency planning.
The Bill also amends the Fuels (Control of Supplies) Act 1971 to allow the Minister, by order, where there is a fuel emergency, to provide for direction-making powers to ensure the supply of fuel to protect the operation of the electricity grid and other essential services.
The Bill also transfers the statutory functions relating to renewable transport fuels from the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to the Minister for Transport. This is in line with the changes in policy responsibility that took place in early 2021. The Bill also provides for the Minister for Transport to make regulations to effect an increase in the use of renewable transport fuels and to incentivise their use for particular purposes. These provisions are consistent with the aims of the renewable energy directive and they are in line with the fuel quality directive. They will also enable the implementation of the E10 petrol grade in the State, aligning fuel grades with those available in Northern Ireland.
I now propose to give a more detailed overview of the Bill, which contains four Parts and 31 sections. Part 1 contains standard legislative provisions that cover the Short Title of the Bill and its commencement. Part 2 amends the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007 and I wish to draw particular attention to the following key provisions in this Part. Sections 4 to 7, inclusive, provide for information sharing and co-operation between the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and the Minister for Transport relating to the governance of the renewable transport fuels scheme functions carried out by the National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA. Section 8 provides that the information transferred by the Revenue Commissioners to the Minister may only be used in the preparation of the oil emergency plan or in the exercise of the powers and functions relating to the administration of the NORA levy. Sections 10 and 11 provide that the Minister for Transport may make regulations authorising NORA to issue additional certificates in respect of renewable transport fuels and for the purpose of incentivising the use of these fuels in particular sectors and in particular means of transport.
The Minister for Transport may also, with the consent of the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, make regulations specifying the minimum percentage volumes of renewable transport fuel to be present in fuel disposed of in the State by renewable transport fuel obligation account holders. Before making these regulations, the Minister for Transport must consult relevant bodies and consider the effect on fuel prices in the State and the requirements of relevant energy and climate plans.
Section 14 provides for an exemption from renewable transport fuel obligations in cases of particular urgency. The Minister for Transport, following consultation with the Minister and NORA and having regard to relevant climate legislation, may determine that oil stocks released, or to be released, that cannot be blended with biofuels be exempt from counting towards obligated parties renewable transport fuel obligations.
Section 18 provides that the Minister for Transport may make regulations and orders in respect of the renewable transport fuel obligation and the advanced biofuel obligation.
Section 20 provides for the preparation of an oil emergency plan, to be prepared by the Minister with the assistance of relevant bodies, and for the plan to be implemented in the event of an oil supply disruption. Provision is made for the plan to contain certain measures, including the timely release of strategic stocks, a reduction in the consumption of oil and the prioritisation of stocks for the emergency and critical services.
Section 21 provides that the Minister shall establish and maintain a register of oil companies to be known as the petroleum register. It specifies the information to be contained in the register and it provides for reporting by each company of updated information on an annual basis.
Part 3 provides for the transfer of statutory functions relating to renewable transport fuels from the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to the Minister for Transport. I draw attention to the following provisions of this Part. Sections 23 to 30, inclusive, provide that the necessary functions currently conferred on the Minister under Part 5A of the 2007 Act relating to renewable transport fuels, SI 33 of 2012, SI 160 of 2017 and regulation 4 of SI 350 of 2022, are transferred to the Minister for Transport on the vesting day. Provision is made for the transfer and continuation of various administrative matters, including relating to the continuation of business and legal proceedings. Provision is also made for the appointment of a vesting day, subsequent to the commencement of the Act.
Part 4 amends the Fuels (Control of Supplies) Act 1971. Section 31 amends section 3 of the Act of 1971, which currently provides that the Minister may regulate or control the acquisition, supply, distribution or marketing of fuel where there is a Government order in place under section 2 of the Act. This amendment allows a Minister, in addition to have the existing powers contained in the Act of 1971, to also have the power to issue directions to the oil companies to provide fuel on a priority basis to the emergency or critical services, and for electricity generation to protect the stability of the electricity grid.
I advise Senators that I intend to bring forward one amendment on Committee Stage. This will be a technical amendment to section 11 to resolve a formatting error in the labelling of subsections within the section. Within section 11, what is now termed paragraph (c) on page 11, line 19, should in fact be subsection (iii), and what is now termed paragraph (d) should be subsection (iv).
I have outlined the main provisions of the Bill and I have provided additional detail on the sections and I hope this will be of assistance to Senators. I look forward to an informed and meaningful debate and to working constructively with Senators on all sides of the House.
Go raibh míle maith agat, a Aire Stáit.
The Minister of State is very welcome to the Chamber. This is a very technical Bill. All of us listening to the Minister of State's very detailed speech would be forgiven for not fully getting to grips with the details of it. I appreciate that he is coming back with an amendment on Committee Stage. All of this is underpinned by the fact that over the past two years the price of electricity and all types of fuel has shot up because of the Russian war and the invasion of Ukraine. In addition, we have not invested in renewable power on a global level as we should have. That is really what is going to bring us out of many of the crises we are in.
It is worth noting that Ireland and Northern Ireland are among the places in Europe with the highest penetration of intermittent renewable - wind and solar - generation, with approximately 39% of domestic electricity in Ireland being served by renewable sources in 2020. We have really ambitious targets. It is difficult to hit our targets across the board when it comes to climate, but we feel our targets are very much achievable when it comes to solar and wind. The Government, the Minister and the Minister of State have been working incredibly hard to put the planning that is required into place and to ensure we have marine protected areas so that we are not abandoning nature. Investing in offshore wind energy can have a lot of value for nature as well because it can preserve areas. We have to make sure the marine protected areas are advanced as a matter of urgency.
It is worth noting that throughout the crisis over the past couple of years, the Government has taken extraordinary measures to ensure people are protected or supported as much as possible. It is not achievable to make up 100% of the costs. In the meantime, we have brought in a package of targeted and broader universal supports, including three €200 electricity credits totalling €600. The ESRI has found that the once-off measures that have been provided for will insulate most households from the rising prices. A household in receipt of fuel allowance this winter is receiving almost €2,000, comprising a €924 fuel allowance payment, a €400 lump sum allowance for fuel, and the €600 in electricity credits I have already mentioned.
The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has met with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU. Senator McGahon and I sit on the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action, which representatives of the CRU attend quite regularly. They have outlined the numerous safeguards and practical ways in which they have been trying to support all consumers and households, including pay-as-you-go customers, because that was a real concern. There was also concern about how vulnerable customers would be supported throughout the winter. When we delved into it, we found that "vulnerable customers" did not mean economically vulnerable. This whole topic has been looked at in detail. This category is to be extended to include people who are financially vulnerable and those who are on the working family payment, one-parent family payment, domiciliary care allowance, carer's allowance or jobseeker's allowance for more than six months. All of that is hugely welcome. Of course we need to make sure people have a steady supply of electricity if they are medically vulnerable. Rising costs mean we must also do our absolute utmost to support those who are struggling financially.
I will use the little time I have left to speak about my own constituency. I am delighted that one of the phase 1 wind projects will be off the coast of County Galway because all of the rest are in the east and the south. It is important to start that transition in the west to get everybody on board. Ireland has the largest onshore wind farm generating 169 MW. Ireland is a leading force when it comes to onshore wind energy. This is part of ensuring the vast quantities are utilised. Up to 80 GW is the potential wind energy available off the west coast of Ireland. That is what we need to start tapping into now. I know from speaking to those involved in the industry that they need to see a trajectory - investment that begets investment, if you like - so that there is a sustainable pipeline of projects covering up to 2030 or 2050 and we are thinking about it in the long term.
I realise that this Bill is necessary. I thank the Minister of State for bringing it forward and for thinking about this from every possible angle. We need to have proper investment in renewables, which is exactly what we are doing.
I thank the Minister of State for his quite comprehensive but very technical briefing. When he spoke at speed about amending section 3 of the Fuels (Control of Supplies) Act 1971 "where there is a Government order in place under section 2 of the Act", and so on, I was reminded of an episode of "Yes Minister" or "Yes, Prime Minister". I do not think people looking in are really getting to grips of what the nub of this is about. That is not a reflection on the Minister of State or the Bill itself; it is just that by its very essence, it is quite technical.
I was also taken by the fact that the Bill transfers power from the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to the Minister for Transport. At the moment that means a transfer from the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. This may not always be the case. I wonder if the right hand will know what the left hand is doing. I understand why it is happening but it is slightly interesting that it is the way it is.
I was asked a question by somebody who was a member of the county council in Wexford. They had put down a motion looking for more oversight of this measure because they had a concern about the reference in the Bill to "emergency". I am not sure where the legislation defines exactly what an "emergency" is. Many people, particularly in the Minister of State's party but also generally, would accept that climate change is an emergency. If climate change is an emergency and we regard it as such, does that mean the Minister could decide to ration petrol or diesel? Could he say that internal combustion engine cars are no longer entitled to fuel and that it is reserved for public service vehicles, goods vehicles or vans? I am not saying that this is the purpose of this Bill, but I suggest we should make sure the public is reassured that it is not the purpose of the Bill. We must emphasise that it is much more about putting in the required legislation to update the 1971 Act, which is probably older than many people in this Chamber, surrounding the State's ability to manage stocks in an emergency.
Many people agree that climate change is an emergency, but it is not the same as the kind of post-earthquake emergency happening in Türkiye and Syria at the moment. Tens of thousands of people have lost their lives and many more are injured. I am unsure if it was in the opening statement but perhaps the Minister of State can articulate what is meant by an "emergency", or show me where it is set out in the legislation. How can we reassure people who drive their cars in very rural areas without much access to public transport that they are not going to be told the Minister has decided we are in an emergency, and petrol stations are now limiting fuel to emergency workers, good vehicles and public transport vehicles, or something along those lines? I do not believe that is the nature of the Bill but it has been flagged to me. That is why it is important that we get clarity on what emergencies are actually provided for.
As Senator O'Reilly said, it is important to emphasise that this is very much an oil emergency. The name of the Bill refers to "Oil Emergency Contingency". The less reliance we have on oil and on fossil fuels generally - this is particularly about oil, rather than gas - the more we reduce our overall reliance as a country. Certainly electric vehicles, active travel and public transport will do that. All of that is absolutely essential. Likewise, if more electricity can be generated by wind, we will reduce our dependency on oil. All those various things are important, but we are certainly not in a place yet where we do not need oil.
I heard a figure years ago that we import €6 billion or so worth of oil a year. I am not sure what the figure is currently. We are certainly reliant on it. Lots of our heating systems are oil based. Lots of our cars are petrol and diesel based. Clearly, aviation is an important area of activity for our country, being an island, more so than many other countries that could rely on trains and so on to get from one country to another.
In the Minister of State’s concluding remarks, he might outline the hierarchy of emergencies and reassure us that this is not about that particular area of reducing people and telling people that they are not allowed to use their cars before they transition to electric vehicles and we get them all using active travel and so on. It is important. We have legislation in place that gives the Minister powers in an emergency and I am supporting this Bill in that context. However, it is important we reassure people and bring people with us. This is not a stalking horse to stop people using oil in the interim before they can move to a better fuel source and a better way of moving around.
I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. The concept of this Bill is contingency planning for if some sort of unforeseen god-awful thing happens. It is prudent from that perspective. It is prudent from the perspective that over the past year I think all governments, not only in Europe, but the world, are more focused on and concerned about energy security than ever before. This is another prudent measure to add to our arsenal and help us with energy security, should anything unforeseen ever happen when it comes to oil or the restriction of oil coming into this country. From that perspective, it is just a case of the Government being prudent about something that may happen in an emergency or disaster-type situation. To be clear, something hugely substantial would have to happen that would be affecting governments across the European Continent for this legislation to be put into use by the Minister. All being said, I think it is prudent legislation. It is important that we have the Minister able to react on a statutory footing to what could be a very fast-paced situation at some point in the future. From that prospect, the legislation is good. It is prudent.
The Bill leads into a wider discussion as well about two things. First, energy security and showing us the need to speed up our transition to renewable energy by the end of the decade. There are two things about that. What I have always said when we have talked about the cost-of-living crisis and the energy crisis over the past couple of months is though we, as a Government, try, we were never going to be able to insulate people fully from the effects of this energy crisis. However, as a Government, we have tried to insulate people as best as possible. I think we have done a good job at insulating people from that, whether it is through the electricity credits or the fuel allowance that Senator O’Reilly talked about, which is substantial funding going back into people’s pockets. We have been able to do that because of the prudent economic management of this country over the past six, seven, eight, nine and ten years.
When we come to speeding up our move to renewable energy, that highlights why we have to get to our targets by 2030 and further on even quicker than ever before. The sooner we move our energy economy and energy systems over to where the vast majority of this country is powered through renewable energy, then we will not need to be hugely concerned about what is happening in Europe and what is happening with gas and oil. That has to be the end goal. When one thinks about it, it is exciting that that is where we will get to. We will be so energy independent, for want of a better term, that the energy we produce in this country will not only be able to fuel and drive our country, but we will be able to be a net exporter as well, for example, exporting wind energy to other countries. It takes us away from an interdependency on gas and oil.
We are approaching the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine. If one was to talk about war on the European Continent only 12 to 18 months ago, nobody would have seen it coming. We do not know what could come along in the future either. The sooner we escalate our transition over to renewable energy, the greater energy security that we, as a country, will have overall.
The final concept of this Bill is contingency planning. It is putting something in the back drawer should an unforeseen circumstance ever happen when it comes to oil. From that prospect, it is prudent. I would be keen to hear the Minister of State’s views on that.
I have a few questions. There are a few areas of this Bill that I have concerns about and there is one overarching piece. It is not fully clear to me why so many powers are being transferred from the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to the Minister for Transport. On a fundamental level, I can see there are certain areas where that might be appropriate, but there are quite a substantial amount of powers being transferred. In this instance and at the moment, they may be the same individual. As much as when there were significant issues when housing and heritage were put together, similarly, things being bundled but moved to different competencies comes with different officials, Departments and mandates. I would like the general case for what this is and why it is being done in this way. We need to know exactly why and exactly why to this extent that transfer is taking place. The measures may well be necessary.
I will power through a few areas. I am identifying areas where I genuinely have questions because I am not sure how to approach them. I refer to the shift whereby the report from the National Oil Reserves Agency is now going to the Minister for Transport. Does that mean the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications will no longer be receiving reports from the National Oil Reserves Agency? In a way, oil is not solely important for transport. If we talk about emergencies, transport is not even the main or most important function in genuine emergency situations. It is a curious transfer of ministry. It seems that will affect the annual reports. Is it the case that the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications will no longer be getting annual reports from the National Oil Reserves Agency despite their overarching responsibilities regarding energy policy?
Section 18 states the Minister for Transport may be able to make regulations and orders under some of these sections that are very important around renewable transport and fuels. Biofuel obligations, crop caps, the minimum percentage volume that was mentioned and the engagement around biofuels are key environmental and energy policy issues. It is not clear to me. I am concerned that the transport function is becoming the key piece here and the oversight may be lost in the transition to renewables and that general policy change.
I refer to sections 11 and 12, specifically around the minimum percentage issue that I mentioned. Some of the biofuel regulation obligations do not seem to come with these consultations. However, on minimum percentage there is consultation with a number of bodies, including the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, which I am glad to see, but not the Climate Change Advisory Council. Would it not be appropriate, given the significance of these fuels in climate change, to be consulting with the Climate Change Advisory Council under sections 11 and 12?
Under section 14, the exemptions are a little unclear to me. We need to be clear. We are certainly not suggesting that the exemptions would in any way be exemptions from any of the obligations we may have taken on under the climate action plan, as I understand it. Perhaps the Minister of State could clarify exactly what the exemptions mean.
I mentioned section 18. The oil emergency plan in section 20 is a key concern. In certain other areas, such as the percentage of renewable fuels, there is at least consultation with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications. In the oil emergency plan, there is not. There is simply consultation with such other Minister as the Minister considers appropriate. We are in danger whereby we may have oil emergency plans that will set perhaps significant policies on petroleum, oil and other fuels, which may not involve consultation with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications. This is a key concern. I do not believe that is appropriate for the Minister for Transport, with limited capacity and limited responsibility in terms of transport, when in fact back-up oil generators for our hospitals may well be far more of a priority in respect of oil if we are genuinely in an emergency.
I do not understand why the Minister for Transport is leading in the context of an oil emergency plan and why the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications is not centre stage. That does not make sense.
Sections 23 and 24 relate to the transfer of functions, including the European Union's greenhouse gas-emission-reduction calculation methods and reporting requirements. I am very concerned we might end up with a different or parallel reporting mechanism in respect of energy fuels coming through the Minister for Transport.
The amendment in section 31 relating to emergency and the general restriction for the common good is welcome. It is appropriate. However, I raised a point with the Minister when the NORA legislation was going through the House three years ago. I stated that we should surely be looking to a point where the Minister can also issue directions with regard to renewable energy and reserving it in times of crisis or emergency for both the public good and the areas of greatest public and social need. Ireland and Europe should be moving towards a renewable energy reserve and renewable energy emergency strategies we can deploy in difficult times.
I will address a number of the points that have been made by Senators. Three Senators raised the general concept that we are talking about here with regard to security of supply and the fact that the right long-term way to achieve this is by reducing our dependence on oil. Senator Reilly mentioned that in the context of having further offshore wind near Galway. Senator Horkan made a similar point. I thank Senator Reilly for pointing out that we are moving to a broader definition of vulnerable customers and away from just medically vulnerable customers. Those who need energy or heat in the winter or throughout the year are not restricted to people who are medically in need. Also included and individuals who are financially vulnerable.
A question was asked by Senator Horkan - although he did say that he was playing devil's advocate to some extent- about whether the Bill could be used to restrict the supply of oil in response to the climate emergency and the Government could say that this was sufficient. I will address that. The definition of what constitutes an emergency is contained in the Fuels (Control of Supplies) Act 1971. That definition is not changing. We have been using the same one for my lifetime. The legislation came into effect in 1971 in response a number of crises, some of which I am just about old enough to remember. The Senator will remember the formation of OPEC, the revolution in Iran and the lack of oil. These geopolitical events translated into long queues at petrol stations in Ireland and to many other problems. The Fuels (Control of Supplies) Act 1971 was brought in to deal with situations where there might be a lack of oil coming in to the country and to decide how to use existing supplies. The legislation states that this is a matter for Government decision; it is not a decision for the Minister. The scenario the Senator described where the Minister would decide on his own to announce an emergency and would act alone is not feasible or possible under the legislation. Those are the two-----
It is good we know that and can tell people.
It is very good that we clarify that. I thank Senator Horkan for raising the question. We need to be very clear that the threshold for what constitutes an emergency is not changing from the working definition, which has been in place for more than 50 years. Second, we need to be clear this is a matter for Government decision rather than one to be decided on by the Minister on his own.
Senator McGahon talked about the need to insulate people from the cost-of-living crisis. It is great that he used the word, "insulate". The 27,000 families who were insulated this year. The 37,000 families who will receive insulation this year will appreciate that as well. We need to insulate our homes in order to isolate Putin. That is what we need to do. The Senator is absolutely right. That is the long-term fix.
Senator Higgins looked for more detail on the transfer of powers, asked whether too many powers are being transferred and asked in detail about some of those powers. I will be clear. We are talking about a transfer of powers from the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to the Minister for Transport. As Senator Horkan pointed out, those two posts are held by the same person at present but will not be in future. A policy decision was made by Government to transfer the biofuels policy for transport from the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to the Minister for Transport, because it is a transport policy, and, really, it is a follow-up from that. Part of the idea is that we do not want a situation where all of climate action is being decided by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, who does all the climate action in his or her own Ministry solely. Our climate action has to be a whole-of-government response. Every Ministry has to take responsibility for making sure that its actions and policies directly address the climate challenge. Thus, it makes sense that the Minister for Transport is responsible for actions that affect transport and climate.
I refer to some of the specific questions Senator Higgins has asked. One of her questions was with regard to the Climate Change Advisory Council, CCAC, not being consulted on the biofuels obligation, not being listed as being consulted or there being a statutory requirement to consult the CCAC. The question is as to whether that is appropriate. I need to consider what the remit of the CCAC is and whether it should be consulted. We can come back to that on Committee Stage.
This is an oil emergency Bill. It does not cover other fuels. Another of the questions Senator Higgins asked was as to whether we should have a renewables energy emergency Bill and be able to take control of the electricity - I am extrapolating here - from a wind or solar farm and whether that should be subject to the same kinds of restrictions and sent to those who need it most. That is a very interesting question. It is outside the scope of this Bill, which relates to oil, but I am happy to discuss the matter further. We can look at any proposals the Senator may have in that regard. The Senator can also talk to officials in the Department, but it is a fair question. The Senator also had further questions on oil emergency plans and who gets consulted on them. I will look into that, rather than give her a glib answer. I think that covers most of the questions I have been asked.
I remind Members that the purpose of this legislation is to strengthen the Government's ability to manage oil stocks in the unlikely event of a constraint on supplies, not in the event of an emergency. This is an important Bill. It puts key aspects of oil emergency planning on a statutory footing. The Bill will strengthen the statutory provisions available to Government to respond to a prolonged oil emergency and thereby ensure adequate supplies for the emergency and critical services, including for the use of oil to generate electricity, if necessary, in the event of a gas shortage.
The Bill places a statutory requirement on the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to produce an oil emergency response plan. It provides for the establishment of an oil suppliers emergency register to ensure fast communication with oil companies in the event that the Minister has to make orders or issue directions in order to control the supply of oil. It also allows Revenue to share data on oil movements, which will help with emergency planning. The Bill provides more clarity around the powers of the Minister and how quickly they can be deployed to control the supply and distribution of fuel in an emergency. These provisions will significantly enhance the capacity for Government to respond very quickly in a major oil emergency to protect our critical services.
The Bill effectively transfers statutory functions relating to renewable transport fuels from the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, to the Minister for Transport. This is in line with the change in policy responsibility that took place in 2021. In addition, the Bill provides for the Minister for Transport to make regulations to effect an increase in the use of renewable transport fuels. This is in line with the renewable energy directive and climate policy.
These provisions will further drive the use of renewable transport fuels, including through the introduction of the E10 petrol standard, and they will contribute to the State's climate goals.
I thank all the Senators for their co-operation and constructive comments. I look forward to Committee Stage, on which we can discuss these issues further.
Question put and agreed to.
When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?
Next Tuesday.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
Committee Stage ordered for Tuesday, 14 February 2023.
When is it proposed to sit again?
At 2.30 p.m. next Tuesday.
Cuireadh an Seanad ar athló ar 2.31 p.m. go dtí 2.30 p.m., Dé Máirt, 14 Feabhra 2023.
The Seanad adjourned at 2.31 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 14 February 2023.