A standard specification for intruder alarm systems, which among other things specifies a minimum and maximum duration for audible alarms, has been formulated by the National Standards Authority of Ireland, acting with the consent of the Minister for Industry and Commerce, and was issued in 1987.
Strengthened provisions for controlling noise emissions and sources have been provided for in the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992. Under section 106 of that Act, the Minister for the Environment may, following consultation with other Ministers concerned and the agency, make regulations for the purpose of preventing or limiting any noise which, inter alia, may give rise to a nuisance or disamenity.
I have no immediate proposals for extending these regulations to alarms generally, in view of the existing standard specification referred to. There are general rights of complaint to the District Court under section 108 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992. These may be availed of, as necessary, by complainants in particular circumstances of noise nuisance.