Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

As Senator Boylan has said, in the committee we discussed obsolescence and other issues around large items, electronic devices and white goods. The recommendation was for the Minister of State and the Department to investigate the matter. I will be keen to hear what investigation was done in that regard. I remember looking around IKEA, a large store, several years ago and there were standard lamps for sale in which the light bulb could not be changed. If it went, you had to get a whole new lamp. That is built-in obsolescence in action. It needs to be dealt with.

I completely agree that the so-called latte levy has overshadowed a lot of the very good work in the Bill. It is difficult because that is what people go for in the discussion in the media. However, we all agree on the need to reduce the use of stuff. That is part of it.Built-in obsolescence, however, means that people do not even know they will have to replace the goods maybe a year or two years down the line. They think they are purchasing the goods for life, as we used to do when we were younger and when a cooker lasted 30 years. That has to be addressed. I know the Minister of State said the last time we discussed this that one thing that can be done at a local level and that he is looking at is a labelling system that would inform the public as to whether something has built-in obsolescence. I will let the Minister of State come in on that. It is an issue I feel passionate about. The Minister of State has said that he and the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, are negotiating on behalf of Ireland at EU level when it comes to some of these matters.