Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)

In regard to the Minister's first point on the savings that will be attained from the introduction of this measure, I had an idea that what he outlined was the way in which he made those calculations. His calculation of the level of savings in tonnage of CO2 emissions from the introduction of this measure are faulty. He made an assumption that 80% of energy generated from incandescent lightbulbs will be wasted, but that is not the case. Much of the 80% of energy that does not generate light generates heat in homes. A change from the use of incandescent bulbs to other types of lightbulbs will reduce the level of heat in homes, and the heating system in homes will have to compensate for that shortfall. For example, a heating system with a thermostat will detect the difference in the level of heat in the home and compensate for any loss by increasing the domestic heating output. This will mean that more energy will be generated by way of domestic heat output. Therefore, the Minister's figures are wrong and to prove that——

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