John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. The programme for Government commits to phasing out the use of incandescent light bulbs in favour of more energy efficient alternatives. While the national climate change strategy proposed a levy on low efficiency bulbs, a more direct approach is necessary. In his carbon budget statement of 6 December 2007, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government announced that a minimum energy efficiency standard for lighting will be introduced from 2009 and advised that this measure will deliver emissions savings of up to 700,000 tonnes per year from residential lighting alone when incandescent bulbs are fully replaced in all domestic light fittings.

As modern energy efficient lights typically use only 20% as much energy as their incandescent alternatives and last up to 15 times longer, significant savings for consumers are possible. According to the ESB, one compact fluorescent lamp could save up to €170 over the lifetime of the bulb. It has been estimated consumers could save €185 million in electricity costs per annum. From both an emissions and a cost perspective, the energy efficiency standard being developed represents a significant positive initiative for consumers and the environment.

Work on developing the proposed standard is ongoing and the Minister will announce details as soon as they are finalised. The standard will create certainty for manufacturers and suppliers about the lamps that can be supplied, and stimulate the development of alternative lighting technologies in Ireland. It will also provide the greatest assurance as to effectiveness of the desired environmental outcome, both in terms of reduced greenhouse gas emissions and in reduced energy consumption. The Minister is engaged in discussions with the lighting industry on the format and scope of the proposed standard and he will consider all the issues raised, including any impact on jobs.

Climate change presents us with an enormous challenge and the Minister is asking the lighting sector to be ambitious in moving away from old, inefficient technologies. Exciting new technologies are emerging, particularly low energy halogen and LED lamps, and their introduction to the Irish market should be expedited. The constructive engagement of the sector on the proposed standard, and the involvement of IBEC in facilitating the ongoing discussions, is very much to be welcomed.

It is the Minister's intention that the proposed standard, once finalised, will be subject to public consultation and, as part of this process, he proposes to invite submissions from relevant stakeholders. A fundamental objective of this consultation, in addition to the ongoing discussions between officials of his Department and the lighting sector in Ireland, is to ensure all the impacts of the proposed standard are identified and considered. The proposed standard should be seen as a positive step for consumers in terms of the cost of domestic lighting and increased awareness of energy use on the environment. It is also a very welcome development in national energy and climate change policy.

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