Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1314: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has plans to phase out the use of incandescent light bulbs. [1003/08]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 1331: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if a full cost benefit analysis and health risk evaluation will be carried out prior to the introduction of proposals regarding compact fluorescent light bulbs; and if he will address concerns regarding the disposal of CFLs. [1260/08]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 1345: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason he has not included in the carbon budget, projected emissions cuts from the introduction of a new national standard for energy efficient light bulbs from 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1451/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1314, 1331 and 1345 together.

The Programme for Government commits to phasing out the use of incandescent light bulbs in favour of more energy efficient alternatives. More recently, in my Carbon Budget Statement of 6 December last, I 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.

Savings in electricity consumption from more energy efficient lighting will lead indirectly to a reduction in emissions from electricity generation. As all electricity generation plants in Ireland are included in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and have their emissions capped for the 2008-2012 period in advance, any reduction in emissions within the ETS sector during the period will not lead to any further reduction in Ireland's national distance to target for Kyoto Protocol compliance. The emissions savings will however count towards the Government's domestic 3% average annual reduction commitment. In formulating proposals for a minimum energy efficiency standard, it will be necessary to have regard to a range of factors, including the availability of alternative lamp technologies in the market to meet consumer requirements. To this end, I have recently established an Inter Departmental Group on Energy Efficient Lighting to, inter alia, advise me on the technical basis on which such a standard might be developed, the potential impacts of the proposal on specific groups and any other relevant issues. It is also my intention that the efficiency standards proposed will be subject to a public consultation and as part of this process, I propose to invite submissions from stakeholders that may be adversely affected. Finally, as compact fluorescent bulbs are likely to become more widespread, I have asked the EPA to draw up guidelines on the safe disposal of these products.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 1315: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he will implement the European Court of Justice decision which impacts on stocking rates on commonages in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1017/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I assume that the Question refers to the ruling by the European Court of Justice in case C-117/00 against Ireland's implementation of the Birds Directive, the thrust of which was recently reaffirmed in case C-418/04. In order to comply with Ireland's obligations under the Birds Directive, identified in that ruling, my Department has been working with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to devise a prescription for the implementation of grazing restrictions in the Twelve Bens/Maumturks regions of Galway. I expect that discussion between the two Departments will be finalised shortly. My colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and I intend to implement the necessary measures starting in November 2008, following consultations with the relevant landowner stakeholders.