The mandate is lower than the 5.75% mark Ireland indicated it would implement in 2007, before its biofuel ambitions were sideswiped by the controversy over the perceived impact on global food supplies. But industry groups nevertheless claim it is long overdue, and will at least provide a stable foundation to build upon.
Irish energy minister Eamon Ryan, a member of the Green Party, insists that Ireland is on track to source 10% of its transport fuels from renewable sources by 2020, in line with an EU-wide mandate.
