Bail ó Dhia oraibh ar fad. Tá an-athas orm a bheith anseo libh ar maidin.
I am pleased to be with you today to receive the Gas Technical Standards
Committee’s Annual Activity Report for the year 2005.
Of course, natural gas and in particular its safe use is a key priority for my Department and a priority I know you share. My Department has undertaken to strengthen existing gas safety legislation with the aim of enhancing public safety and reducing the number of gas related accidents taking place annually.
To this end, Government approval was granted to prioritise the drafting of Natural Gas Safety legislation and this is included in the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. The published Bill is now in the public domain. It is not the finished article as the Minister will be tabling significant amendments to address industry concerns and those of BGE and the CER. The Bill is scheduled to be taken through the Dáil Committee Stage on 13 July 2006.
The Bill includes provisions to further enhance the safety of energy consumers and the public, ensuring that Ireland continues to meet with international best practice in relation to electrical and natural gas safety.
The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) is being given robust new safety functions, which will include the regulation of natural gas installers with respect to safety. This may be extended to cover LPG installations in the future. The CER will also be granted additional powers to ensure rigorous enforcement, including the designation of Electrical and Gas Safety Supervisory Bodies, the establishment of standards for training and registration, the introduction of certification schemes and provisions for penalties for non-compliance. This move to place gas safety on a statutory footing is long overdue. While we acknowledge the high standards and professionalism of the industry, a clear delineation of requirements in law is timely now.
The Bill also includes provisions enabling the Minister to introduce full gas market opening by Order in advance of the EU deadline of 1st July 2007. This will extend the benefits of liberalisation previously enjoyed by industrial and commercial consumers, by enabling all natural gas customers to have an option to ‘shop around’ for their supplier of choice.
The Bill serves to expand the functions of the CER to include the regulation of, and the active promotion of, natural gas safety. In this context the CER will be required to consult the NSAI -(National Standards Authority of Ireland) regarding standards and specifications relating to gas safety.
The issue of gas safety and appropriate standards has been thrust into the public spotlight because of the controversy surrounding the Corrib gas development project. I do not intend to comment on this project in particular, except to say that I note with satisfaction, that work, which was done during 2005 on reviewing the safety of the Corrib project, resulted in the designation of an Irish Standard promulgated by this Committee to apply to certain aspects of the project.
The details of this will be reported fully in the 2006 Activity Report. This underlines the fact that the work of this Committee has influence in issues of national significance.
I recognise that this work is important. Articulating and approving standards is vitally important, even if this is only appreciated by exception, i.e. when things go wrong. When a gas appliance is not installed and operated or maintained according to the standards promulgated by this Committee, the results can be fatal.
I am pleased to record that instances of death or injury resulting from work on gas pipelines, systems and appliances are reducing rapidly year on year. I attribute much of this improvement to the heightened awareness about best practice and high safety standards, which is driven by the thoughtful and diligent work by your various Technical Committees.
I wish you all well in your endeavours during the coming year.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh.
ENDS