A round-up of shorter stories from the Fine Gael ardfheis.
TD calls Roche's policy on nuclear shipments a sham
Minister for the Environment Dick Roche's policy on the transportation of Mox fuel - a blend of plutonium and natural uranium, reprocessed uranium, or depleted uranium - through the Irish Sea is a sham, Fine Gael's spokesman Fergus O'Dowd has claimed.
When Mox was first transported, Air Corps aircraft tracked the vessel, there was a huge protest and major publicity, the Louth TD said.
Mox was still being transported but there were no protests and the only way people could find out about these shipments was through the Greenpeace website.
"A lesser type of craft is now carrying that plutonium. It is a 20-year-old roll-on roll-off ferry," he told ardfheis delegates. "Minister, you're a sham. You're not telling the Irish people the truth," he claimed.
Call for mandatory biofuel targets
Fine Gael's agriculture spokesman Denis Naughten has proposed making it a legal requirement that all diesel and petrol sold in the Republic comprises a biofuel content of between 2 per cent and 5 per cent.
He said such a move would help create a market for biofuels in Ireland from crops that could be grown by tillage farmers here.
"There has never been a better time for Irish farmers to become involved in the growth and processing of biofuels," he said.
He outlined the party's proposals for the sector, including the provision of seed capital of up to €300,000 each for producer groups.
Tax incentives for fuel-efficient cars
The ardfheis heard proposals yesterday for reform of the vehicle registration tax system to reward more fuel-efficient cars.
Fine Gael's energy spokesman Bernard Durkan said the system should be based on carbon dioxide emission rates from cars, rather than their engine type or size.
Renewable energy sources, such as wind and wave power, could reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly, he said.