IRELAND COMFORTABLE WITH EU HFCS REGULATION, BUT

UNCLAS DUBLIN 000759 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD BEXP USTR SUBJECT: IRELAND COMFORTABLE WITH EU HFCS REGULATION, BUT THAT COULD CHANGE IN THE FUTURE REF: STATE 90316 ¶1. Emboff, drawing on reftel points, on May 19 spoke to Assistant Principal Officer at the Department of Environment, Climate Change Division, Patrick O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan stated that Ireland supports current EU thinking on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCS) - containment and increased training in the handling of fluorinated gases and would not introduce language calling for a total ban. However, he also said Ireland could support future tightening on HFCS regulations as long as they were economically and technologically feasible. O'Sullivan illustrated the point by noting that some companies already produce refrigerators and air conditioning equipment that do not use HFCS. ¶2. Regarding regulations involving domestic refrigeration and mobile air conditioning, O'Sullivan said that Ireland follows EU regulations in lieu of a national policy. KENNY