Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

I am grateful to the Deputy for informing me of the support schemes for Christmas lighting in Irish. Eirgrid has set out the increases in electricity that arise at this time of year from Christmas lighting. We will see many opportunities and technological developments which will provide certain solutions. For example, with LED lighting we can achieve light with a much lower energy reduction. I commend my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, who, in the budget, agreed to a complete phase out of energy inefficient light bulbs by 1 January 2009, which will save in the order of 700,000 tonnes of emissions each year and €185 million in reduced electricity bills for consumers. That is an example of a very practical technological measure which achieves a significant gain without a significant cost to citizens.

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