Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013
782. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the legislative basis that registered electrical contractors must register by 1 October 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37293/13]
View answerThe Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is the independent statutory regulator and is tasked with regulating the activities of electrical contractors with respect to safety under the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, as amended by the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2006 (the 2006 Act). The legislative basis for the requirement to which the Deputy refers is contained in the Statutory Instrument No. 264 of 2013, ELECTRICITY REGULATION ACT 1999 (RESTRICTED ELECTRICAL WORKS) REGULATIONS). This Statutory Instrument, which was promulgated in July, restricts the carrying out of all "Restricted Electrical Works" in a domestic setting to "Registered Electrical Contractors" with no legal exemption for the owner and occupier. The regulations are effective from 1 October 2013.
The primary legislative basis for this Statutory Instrument is Section 9E(1) of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, which allows the CER to make regulations designating a class, or classes, of electrical works to be designed electrical works. The CER subsequently changed the title of such works from designated electrical works to restricted electrical works.
Further information on this matter can be found on the CER website www.cer.ie/en/electricity-safety-overview.aspx and also the www.safeireland.ie website.
