22 Márta 2012, 16:57
The Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture has called for greater flexibility for Member States to set their own priorities around a new EU energy efficiency directive.
In a report published today, the Committee fully supports the EU target of achieving 20 per cent primary energy savings by 2020. However, the Committee states that the path set out by the Commission for Member States to achieve these targets is too prescriptive.
The report advises that Member States should be allowed to achieve these targets based on the optimal mix of targets, schemes and programmes for a particular country.
Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee Andrew Doyle TD said: “Our Committee has an important role in scrutinising European Union proposals and this report encapsulates some of the concerns for Ireland on the EU’s important energy efficiency directive. While Ireland has a national target in line with the EU directive, the Committee does not support ‘binding’ targets at this juncture.
“The Committee advocates that Member States be granted the flexibility to set priorities in accordance with their particular local circumstances. We believe that there should be a greater focus on harnessing new technologies appropriate to individual Member States – a European Supergrid, for instance, would allow Ireland the scope to take greater advantage of its wind and tidal resources.”
The Committee also recommends that:
- The European Commission should review its existing Directives and Programmes in the area before continuing negotiations on this particular Directive.
- An inter-departmental and agency Working Group on Energy Efficiency be established to ensure a coordinated approach to the Directive, harnessing the expertise across public sector.
- Proposals within the Directive on National Heating and Cooling Plans should be subject to a rigorous cost benefit analysis by the EU Commission.
Access report.
The report has been laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas and forwarded to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. A copy will be sent to the European Commissioner for Energy, as a considered response by the Irish Parliament to the proposed reform and seek the Commissioner’s views on the concerns raised.
Ends
For further information contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 6949926
F: +3531 618 4551
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Committee Membership
Deputies
Tom Barry, Fine Gael
Michael Colreavy, Sinn Fein
Pat Deering, Fine Gael
Andrew Doyle, Fine Gael
Martin Ferris, Sinn Fein
Noel Harrington, Fine Gael
Martin Heydon, Fine Gael
Colm Keaveney, Labour Party
Mattie McGrath, Independent
Michael McNamara, Labour Party
Michael Moynihan, Fianna Fail
Éamon Ó Cuív, Fianna Fail
John O’Mahony, Fine Gael
Ann Phelan, Labour Party
Thomas Pringle, Independent
Senators
Michael Comiskey
Paschal Mooney
Pat O’Neill
Mary Ann O’Brien
Brian Ó Domhnaill
John Whelan