asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy whether his Advisory Committee on Energy Conservation has rendered any advice so far; and, if so, the advice it has rendered.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Energy Conservation.
22.
The Advisory Committee on Energy Conservation operates on a consultative basis and its advice is rendered informally to my Department. The committee examine various aspects of energy conservation and make recommendations on such matters as:
(a) the priority to be given to particular sectors in publicity campaigns;
(b) the evaluation of projects as to their suitability for financial assistance;
(c) the assessment of various proposals aimed at securing reduction in energy consumption.
The Deputy will, I am sure, appreciate that it would be quite impossible in reply to a Parliamentary Question to give details of advice tendered by the committee on such a wide variety of matters related to energy conservation.
There are two questions I should like to ask. One is, do that committee operate on their own initiative, and when the Minister says they are a consultative body, does that mean they come together only when a specific question is addressed to them by the Minister?
They are going on all the time.
Irrespective of what the Minister may ask of them?
Yes.
Have they made any recommendations on the enforcement of certain building standards in the private sector?
They have made recommendations on a number of items.
My question seeks information on whether they have made recommendations on building standards, such as walls and insulation.
A project in this sector has been undertaken by the IIRS to assess the options available in the building industry with regard to its potential energy conservation achievement. This will yield a computerised model and will give designers and investors an opportunity to employ marginal analysis techniques in assessing the value of including various energy conserving elements in buildings.
Do I take it that it is the IIRS who are conducting this research, or is it being conducted on the initiative of the IIRS?
I have not got the answer to that but I assume that this was conducted in conjunction with the IIRS.
Is there a subhead in this Department's Estimate for the Advisory Committee on Energy Conservation and, if so, how much is it this year?
I will get the information and let the Deputy have it.
The Minister cannot therefore agree with me that it is very much less than previously.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.
I understand that there is agreement that Deputies will not attempt to raise questions on the Adjournment today. Therefore, because of the erroneous information given to me by the Minister in reply to Question No. 9, I propose to raise it on the Adjournment tomorrow.
The Deputy will have to raise the matter again tomorrow.