Vol. 386 No. 7
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will take urgent steps at European level for the phasing out of both the production and the consumption of chlorofluorocarbons within the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
37.
asked the Minister for the Environment the action, if any, the Government propose to take to deal with the problem of chlorofluorocarbons being used in projects in general use in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose taking Questions Nos. 2 and 37 together.
The control of the production and consumption of chlorofluorocarbons in the interests of protecting the ozone layer can best be carried out by multilateral rather than unilateral action. In recognition of this, Ireland in common with its EC partners is a party to the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer which came into force on 1 January 1989. The Protocol introduces control measures for the eight substances regarded as having the greatest ozone depleting potential. These substances comprise five chlorofluorocarbons and three halons. As regards chlorofluorocarbons, the controls require the stabilisation of consumption at 1986 levels from 1 July 1989, a reduction of 20 per cent from 1 July 1993 and a reduction of 50 per cent from 1 July 1998.
The Montreal Protocol is being implemented throughout the European Communities by means of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3322/88 of 14 October 1988. The regulation restricts the production of CFCs within the Community and the importation of CFCs from third countries. In response to these controls, major advances have already been made in the development of substitute substances.
The first review of the Montreal Protocol is scheduled to take place in the spring of 1990 and the preparatory scientific, environmental and economic work is now commencing. I believe that the current measures in the Montreal Protocol are but the first step towards protecting the ozone layer. Greater and faster reductions in the use of CFCs are called for. Ireland will, therefore, be supporting proposals at EC level and at meetings of the Montreal Protocol for more stringent controls on the use of CFCs.
May I ask the Minister if he is aware that the Bureau of European Consumers' Unions and the European Environmental Bureau have called for the total phasing out of both the production and consumption of CFCs within the next five years? Would the Minister agree that the time scale laid down in the Montreal Convention, having regard to the now increased understanding of the impact of CFCs on the ozone layer is too long and there is a need for an urgent reassessment of the provisions in that Convention? Would the Minister indicate whether he intends to take any action urgently at European Community level, prior to the summer of 1990 to bring forward the review process?
I would agree with the Deputy that there is some need to speed up the process of reduction in the use of CFCs. There is only one company in Ireland involved in the filling of aerosols using CFCs, with a very small usage. I understand that the vast majority of these substances are imported into Ireland. I also understand that the United Kingdom states that by the end of 1989 only about 10 per cent of aerosols will contain CFCs. On a wider European level, the Commission of the European Communities expects to conclude shortly an agreement with the European aerosol industry for a common label for CFC-free products. The Commission entered into these negotiations following my request, which was supported by all other member states, at the Environmental Council held last June. There is an understanding that we should speed up the process and I support the notion put forward by the Deputy.
A final supplementary question. Would the Minister agree with the assessment made by a Dr. Tolba at the two-day United Nations Environmental Programme Conference at The Hague recently, that the world faces a catastrophe in the next 40 years if CFCs continue to be used? Would the Minister consider, to strengthen the moral position of this country at European level pressing for more immediate and urgent action by introducing an overall ban on the use of CFCs and the importation into this country of any product in which they are used, within the course of this year?
I cannot say that that will happen within the course of the year but I support the general thrust of the Deputy's remark that we should reach a situation as soon as possible where we will be importing as few as possible of these products. It might be as well to say here that the particular firm that I mentioned use about one tonne in a year. This is for a very specialist product to do with health care. As of this time, there is no suitable alternative propellant available here or elsewhere for the product. It is a very important product for health care.
In the United States these products have been banned altogether since 1970.
I understand that there are still some special products for which an alternative propellant cannot be found. However, I accept what the Deputy says. I do not know if the crisis is as great as he says, but certainly we should be heading as quickly as possible towards total non-usage of CFCs.
