Roche to answer favouritism claims

Environment Minister Dick Roche will be callled before a powerful Dail committee to respond to claims the Government is protecting the interests of the concrete manufacturing sector, by delaying the introduction of new energy efficient building standards.

Century Homes chief executive Gerry McCaughey told the Oireachtas Committee on Environment on Wednesday (April 6) that the Government was blatantly acting in the interests of the concrete industry by delaying the introduction of energy rating guidelines.

“The only conclusion to be drawn is that the change was made to protect the dominant market position of concrete methods of construction,” he told the committee.

An EU directive, which is due to come into force next January will require house sellers to provide a certificate to purchasers outling the annual cost of heating the home.
The Government is seeking a derogation on the directive that will delay implementation until 2009.

In a statement Minister Roche said misleading and untruthful allegations were being made in the media and said he was not prepared to favour any particular sector of the construction industry.