Madam, - Your Editorial of January 8th, "Facing up to Climate Change", refers to the measures for implementing the EU directive on energy performance of buildings. Contrary to the suggestion in the Editorial, Ireland is actually one of the leading group of EU member-states implementing this Directive.
Prior to last year only one member-state - Denmark - had a system for energy-rating buildings. Four member-states implemented the system on foot of the EU directive last year and Ireland is one of seven countries to do so in 2007. The European Commission has sent legal reasoned opinions to 16 member-states for their failure to notify sufficient implementation measures. Ireland is not one of them.
Again, contrary to your assertion, the directive does not set standards for energy performance. Irish law already requires all new dwellings to comply with the conservation of fuel and energy requirements of the building regulations. These regulations have been improved and upgraded three times since 1997. I will be reviewing these standards even further this year as part of Ireland's climate change strategy.
The separate Building Energy Rating system required under the EU directive mentioned above was given effect by regulations which I recently signed into law. The various implementation deadlines set out in the regulations are in line with those published in Ireland's implementation action plan, save for one additional transitional period for new homes which obtained planning permission in the second half of 2006.
Ireland has not delayed implementation of new energy standards for two years, as suggested, nor have we sought a derogation from any aspect of the directive.
The energy labelling certificate will provide house owners and purchasers with information on the energy performance of their dwelling - and indeed other buildings - and how to improve that performance. In this regard Ireland is well to the fore in implementing this new EU-wide system.
- Yours, etc,
DICK ROCHE TD, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dáil Éireann, Dublin 2.
The EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive was adopted in 2002 and came into force on January 1st this year. However, under transitional arrangements made by Mr Roche, it will not apply to all new housing built in Ireland until 2009, as reported in our edition of January 2nd. - Ed,IT.