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