asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if special consideration will be given to EEC energy policy during the Irish Presidency of the EEC.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Energy Policy.
11.
Yes. Indeed, consideration will be given to these matters before the Presidency begins.
12.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if he accepts the judgment of the International Energy Agency in their report published on 6 June 1979 regarding this country's performance in the conservation of oil and other energy sources.
The report referred to includes a detailed report on the energy policies of individual IEA member states including Ireland and an overall assessment of their energy policies taken as a whole. The detailed report on Ireland gives a factual account of our energy programme and makes certain recommendations for further action. Some of these have already been put into effect and others are still under consideration.
In the overall assessment we are grouped with six other countries —Austria, Belgium, Greece, Luxembourg, Spain and Switzerland—which are stated to have inadequate energy conservation programmes. It should be remembered that one of the main objectives of the International Energy Agency is to reduce dependence on imported oil by promoting strong energy conservation programmes in all member states. I do not think we could even hope to get to the stage where the agency would say that our efforts were adequate but I would point out that in the detailed report the agency stated that there was a definite improvement in our programme compared with the previous year.
The Estimates provision for energy conservation in this current year is £422,000. In addition I have asked the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards to expand their energy conservation programme very considerably and an increase in their budget of some £300,000 is being prepared. The attempts being made by this country to improve energy conservation are, therefore, not to be denigrated and it will be a matter of concern to us to ensure that any savings which we can achieve are matched by the large and richer members of the IEA whose little-restrained demand for petroleum has been the subject of very serious criticism.
Would the Minister accept that of the seven countries, of which we were one, that came in for this criticism, only Belgium and Luxembourg among the others are members like ourselves of the European Community? Along with the Belgians and Luxembourgers we are the only ones who came into this category.
All the countries concerned are members of the IEA.
But the European Community have repeatedly stressed in their own right the importance of energy conservation. It is a poor thing that we should be in this basket along with Belgium and Luxembourg.
I am surprised that the IEA have seen fit to exclude from their rather mild strictures to these seven countries, certain larger ones whose consumption of oil would far exceed the seven countries put together. I hope that the IEA will be able in the near future to have their guidelines followed by all their member states.
Is the Minister's last remark equivalent to saying that he does not accept the judgment and the equity of the IEA Report?
I accept that they classify us with these six other countries as not having done enough.
Unfairly, in the Minister's view?
Certain larger countries have a great deal more to offer. This year we have taken far more steps than most other member states of the IEA or the EEC.
Question No. 13. We cannot have an argument now.
Would the Minister agree that according to the IEA Report there is only a handful of compulsory conservation measures in existence here, and that there is a great lack of adequate financial incentives for saving fuel in the industrial and domestic contexts?
The Deputy will appreciate that the report is referring to last year.
Nineteen Seventy-Eight, during which the Minister was in office.
Question No. 13.