Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 5 Oct 1999

Vol. 508 No. 3

Written Answers - Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

John Gormley

Question:

274 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the ozone depleting substances still in use; the quantities in use; the way in which these substances will be phased out; when Ireland will be fully ozone friendly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18832/99]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey):

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, and amendments, provide for the phased withdrawal of ozone depleting substances – ODS – and places controls on the production, consumption, import and export of ODS. Most ODS have now either been banned, for example, CFCs, chlorofluorocarbons, or are being progressively phased out, for example, HCFCs, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, methyl bromide. Some limited use of banned substances is allowed on a transitional basis for essential purposes, for example, CFCs for metered dose inhalers.

Ireland does not manufacture ODS; however, approximately 700 tonnes of CFCs are being imported this year for the manufacture of inhalers under essential uses provisions. Importation of CFCs under the essential uses provision is being phased out as non-CFC inhalers become approved. On provision of relevant product details, figures for trade in ODS that are not banned are available directly from the Central Statistics Office.

EU Regulation 3093/94 provides for implementation of the Montreal Protocol within the EU and there are proposals for this regulation to be replaced. The new draft regulation provides measures which go further than the provisions of the Montreal Protocol, as amended, on the basis of experience in the implementation of the existing regulation and of progress in the availability of alternative substances.

The main elements of the draft regulation are a reduction in the cap for placing products containing controlled substances covered by the regulation on the market from 2.6 per cent to 2 per cent of 1989 levels; tighter end-use controls; and a production freeze and phase-out schedule for HCFCs which includes a review clause in 2002; a phase-out of the production and consumption of methyl bromide by 2005 with a 60 per cent cut in 2001 and 75 per cent cut in 2003, with exemptions for critical uses continuing after 2005, and exemptions for quarantine and pre-shipment use; general prohibition on the placing on the market and use of CFCs and other fully halogenated substances; and further controls on trade in ODS.

Ireland supports the EU position of accelerating the phase out of ODS where feasible and the adoption of the new regulation and will comply with its requirements.