Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We could deal with the energy efficiency in two senses. We may have an opportunity to return to the topic next week. We can certainly talk a bit about Ireland if colleagues wish to do so but here it relates to an EU regulation in the context of energy union and a revised regime for energy efficiency labelling of products, including washing machines, fridges and other such products. We are working together in the European Union on a common standardised labelling system. We already have, of course, a labelling system that is recognised across the Union and that needs to be revised in a way that it is accessible and that ensures it is doing its job properly.

A new regulation will come into effect from January 2016, meaning that the current directive will be repealed. It will reintroduce the simple A to H scale in place of the current more complex approach with A, A+, A++, A+++ and so on. I said to officials earlier that it is a case of grade inflation in the energy labelling of products. It will reorganise that and make it a bit more sensible, allowing people to understand it better. The top-rating classes are becoming overpopulated so we are trying to bring it back down in order that it is realistic and understandable. It will be a system that people can abide by.

Energy labelling enables consumers to make informed purchasing decisions by providing information to them on the energy a product actually consumes. We had some concerns on the matter. Most of our concerns have been addressed and we now support the compromise text proposed.

The broader issue of energy efficiency is one we are very keen to advance and members will see it featuring very prominently in the White Paper. It is often said the cheapest energy is the energy we do not consume. We are progressing the necessary decarbonisation of our economy and, as every country in the world will have to do this, it will be a very relevant topic of discussion and debate in the context of the Conference of the Parties, COP. We need to pivot every economy away from the burning of fossil fuels towards renewable energy but, in particular, towards energy efficiency so that we use less energy in our homes, in businesses, in production and manufacturing, in public buildings, such as this one, and so on across the board. That is a big push. We now have more money in the capital programme to ensure this can be done here but we need to continue our efforts on energy efficiency. I agree with the Deputy on how important that is.

In respect of the market design issue, we have things to say which we will say on Thursday and which I have said before at Council meetings. We want to see progress but we also want a sensible level of progress for countries like Ireland. For example, we already have an all-island electricity market, and we are an exemplar in that regard. That has been in place for a number of years and we are progressing it through the integrated single electricity market, ISEM, for which a lot of work is taking place. We also have to complete certain actions under the third energy package. What we will be saying to our colleagues is, yes, let us progress, yes, let us advance this agenda, but let us do certain things properly first and let us not have a multitude of demands and changes all happening at the same time. We want to ensure we progress in a sensible way and in ways that work for individual countries like Ireland. There is a not a one-size-fits-all solution to these complex issues and we have to make sure our own conditions and requirements are respected in the changes that occur.