Miscanthus

LABOUR Party spokesperson on Agriculture & Food Seán Sherlock TD has welcomed the announcement by Minister Eamon Ryan on a REFIT price for miscanthus.

Deputy Sherlock said, “This is very good news for the bio-fuel industry and members of the farming community who are involved in the growing of miscanthus. It has been single biggest issue affecting the industry and after months of waiting for an announcement growers can finally move forward with harvesting knowing they will secure a good price.

“I think the Minister must now go a step further and initiate a campaign to promote the growth of miscanthus. There are many farmers who still remain to be convinced on its merits as a crop yet it boasts a greater profit margin, is also a self generating crop which is viable for twenty years or more thereby offering a very high return for a very low labour inp“There is increasing demand for alternative renewable energy sources given that renewable energy targets have to be met. There are establishment grants available to farmers to plant miscanthus for bio energy purposes while The ‘Bio energy Scheme’ also supports the planting of miscanthus by providing grants to farmers for up to 50 per cent of establishment costs. Areas planted with miscanthus can  also qualify for an EU Energy Crops premium. This is something that I feel the government is failing to market effectively to the farming community.

“There is huge potential for job creation in this sector as miscanthus when baled into briquette form can be used for domestic heating and could complement the us of coal and traditional peat briquettes,” he said.

Deputy Sherlock has also tabled an amendment to the Bio-Fuels obligation bill to ensure that Irish Oil Refineries will be partly stocked with Irish ethanol instead of cheaper Brazilian imports.

Deputy Sherlock has sought the introduction of a tariff on Brazilian oil imports in a bid to give Irish growers the competitive edge in the bio-fuel market which he claims will in turn generate jobs.

“I have tabled an amendment to the bill that seeks to introduce a tariff on imports from countries such as Brazil. This is to promote local production in Ireland of renewable energy sources particularly in rural areas where a number of farmers are seeking to kick-start a local ethanol industry. Local ethanol production means local jobs. Whitegate is full of imported ethanol at present in anticipation of this legislation. Our view is simple, place a tariff on imports and create an incentive for local ethanol producers to compete.

“If our amendments were accepted by the Minister it will lead to production facilities looking to local farmers for raw materials. In making the right provisions the Bio-Fuel Bill presents an opportunity to create jobs here in Ireland while also meeting our obligations in terms of renewable energy targets.

“While the Minister was reluctant to accept our amendments at committee stage, I am confident that a regulation will be introduced to allow local producers benefit in the longer term. What we don’t want is a situation whereby the oil refinery in Whitegate is full of imported ethanol from Brazil when it can be produced right here,” he concluded.