Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 1978 > Committee on the Secondary Legislation of the European Communities > Report No. 29 - Statutory Instruments [15]

APPENDIX IV

European Communities (Oil Fuels in Power Stations) Regulations, 1978 [S.I. No. 75 of 1978]

An Rúnaí,

An Roinn Tionscail, Tráchtála agus Fuinnimh.

I am directed by Mr. Mark Clinton, T.D., Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Secondary Legislation of the European Communities, to refer to the European Communities (Oil Fuels in Power Stations) Regulations, 1978 [S.I. No. 75 of 1978].

I am to request you to state for the information of the Joint Committee to which provision of Council Directive 75/405/EEC does Regulation 6 of the Regulations give effect.

Cléireach an Chomhchoiste.

7 Meitheamh, 1978.

Cléireach an Chomhchoiste

faoi Reachtaíocht Thánaisteach na

gComhphobal Eorpach.

I am directed by the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy to refer to your minute of 7 Meitheamh, 1978 (Ref. EC 4/73) about the European Communities (Oil Fuels in Power Stations) Regulations, 1978 [S.I. No. 75 of 1978].

The regulations referred to give effect to E.E.C. Council Directive of 14 April, 1975 concerning the restriction of the use of petroleum products in power stations (75/405/EEC). That Directive made the construction of new power stations based exclusively or mainly on oil as well as the conversion of existing stations to burn oil exclusively or mainly subject to prior authorisation by the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy and listed the circumstances under which authorisation might be given. The Directive placed on the Minister the obligation to examine the eligibility for authorisation of all new oil fired generators no matter how low the rated capacity. Small generators in remote rural houses, standby generators in hospitals, hatcheries, deep freeze installations, cinemas, shops, airports etc. fall within the scope of the Directive and all new generators installed in such cases would normally require approval by the Minister who would have to notify the E.E.C. Commission in Brussels and give reasons for his approval.

In order to reduce the work load involved in implementing the Directive the Minister decided to grant blanket exemption to all small generators the authorisation of which would in any case be automatic, and the consent of the E.E.C. Commission was obtained for this arrangement. Regulation 6 of the implementing Regulations gives effect to this decision.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the members of the Joint Committee on the Secondary Legislation of the European Communities.

16 Meitheamh, 1978.