Written Answers. - Ozone Depleting Substances.

Wednesday, 4 May 1994

Dáil Éireann Debate
Vol. 442 No. 3

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[548]

  122.  Mr. Callelly  Information on Ivor Callely  Zoom on Ivor Callely   asked the Minister for the Environment  Information on Michael Smith  Zoom on Michael Smith   the progress, if any, which has been made to eliminate production and use of CFCs in Ireland; if Ireland will meet the time schedule of the EU draft regulation on the subject; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment (Mr. Browne, Wexford): Information on John Browne  Zoom on John Browne  Phase out and elimination of ozone depleting substances is being addressed on a Union-wide basis by Council Regulation No. 594/91 as amended by Council Regulation No. 3952/92.

The target dates specified in these Regulations are as follows:

—CFCs 85 per cent cut by 1.1.94
100 per cent cut by 1.1.95
—Halons 100 per cent cut by 1.1.94
—Carbon Tetrachloride 85 per cent cut by 1.1.94
100 per cent cut by 1.1.94
—1,1,1, Trichloroethane 50 per cent cut by 1.1.94
100 per cent cut by 1.1.94

Overall EU progress towards these targets is monitored by the European Commission and to date is generally satisfactory.

A further draft regulation is now under consideration at EU level. This incorporates the existing regulations and proposes to extend controls to substances newly covered by the Montreal Protocol: HCFCs, HBFCs and methyl bromide. This proposed regulation envisages phase out dates of 1995 for HBRCs, 2014 for HCFCs and a 25 per cent reduction for methyl bromide by 1998.

Ireland has consistently maintained an advanced position on control of ozone depleting substances and strongly supports the early adoption of the current draft regulation.

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