Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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327. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the person or body that made the decision not to impose penalties under the European Union (Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions, Calculation Methods and Reporting Requirements) Regulations 2017 (as amended) with respect to 2020 (details supplied); the reason the decision was taken; the person or body to whom the decision was communicated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18734/21]

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 in 2019 at EU level, SI 160 of 2017 was 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. The Fuel Quality Directive (FQD) 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 by the statutory competent body not to impose penalties under the regulations with respect to 2020.

My Department will continue to assess and review policy and legislative requirements within the context of the on-going reviews at EU level so as to ensure we can continue to maximise our decarbonisation efforts for the transport fuel sector. In this regard it should be noted that compliance under our existing regulations will continue to be a matter for the designated competent body.