Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 6: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the fact that CB6 biocylce units were being sold without correct NSAI/IAB certification, that such units have been installed in homes here and that householders who have installed these units have not been informed that their units are not compliant; the action she will take on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35298/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I assume that the Deputy is referring to domestic wastewater treatment systems.

I understand that National Standards Authority of Ireland/ Irish Agreement Board (NSAI/IAB) certification is a voluntary, not mandatory, certification process that may be applied to innovative products within the construction sector. This certification is identified within the National Building Regulations as one of a number of methods of demonstrating compliance with the requirement of the Regulations that materials are fit for the use for which they are intended and for the conditions in which they are to be used. These wastewater systems are monitored by the Local Authorities through their enforcement of the Building Regulations. The NSAI has no role in the enforcement of these Regulations.

The NSAI has advised me that on 16 July this year it received a complaint regarding IAB certification of one of these systems sold to a member of the public by a particular company. The matter was raised by the IAB during a previously planned audit of this company on 17 July 2008. The IAB then formally wrote to the company concerned on 22 July instructing them to remove all inappropriate references to IAB certification from their website. I understand that the company complied with this request. Subsequently on 8 August 2008 the IAB placed a notice on the NSAI website informing the public of recent incidents involving the misuse of IAB certification concerning wastewater treatment systems. The notice informed the public that products not conforming to the conditions of certification should not be advertised, sold or marked as IAB certified. I understand that contacts between the NSAI and the company concerned are continuing.

I understand that a separate complaint was made to the National Consumer Agency and is being investigated. As the matter is under ongoing investigation by the Agency I cannot comment further on the matter.