Presentation to Joint Oireachtas Committee

Prepared by Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors Ireland

18th February 2015

100,000 illegal boilersInstalled since regulatory system began in June 2009

Deeply concerned, Lives at risk, Potential to kill

In 2012 Dermott Jewel CEO of The Consumers Association of Ireland done an independent survey of Gas Boiler Sales in the ROI (6 main brands only)

He found the minimum figure for 2011 was 27,500+

Under legislation The CER has responsibility for putting in place a Comprehensive system of safety.

In June 2009 the CER set up theRegister Gas Installers Ireland (RGII)

The RGII remit is:

To regulate Registered Gas Installers (only) To investigate complaints RGII are not responsible for looking for illegal Installers

or WorksWho takes responsibility for going out and pro actively

identifying illegal works and operators ???

The System unlike NI is not fit for purpose

For over 3 years APHCI has been talking to the CER & RGII about the scale of the illegal and Black Market operators

In 2014 after years of denying the problem, the CER acknowledged to the APHCI that action is needed

Despite the acknowledgement, little or no actions have been taken

CER in its recently published decision paper entitled “The Regulation of the Gas Installer Industry with respect to Safety from 2016” said

“The CER is of the view that, in general, the scheme has worked effectively to regulate gas installers from a safety

perspective.”

30,000 gas boilers sold each year 12,000 certs returned By law all gas boilers must be certified, a copy of the certificate returned to RGII within 10 days

No of Registered Installers NI = 2,000

No of Registered Installers ROI = 2,775 (13th Feb 2015)

No of gas installers ROI = 4,984 (CER survey 2009)

650,000 gas customers ROI

Less than 6,000 Boiler replacement certs returned to RGII each year

This means a gas boiler is being replaced on average every 108 years

Safety cut-offs/disconnections up 133% in 2011(CER Safety report to minister 2011)

An independent public enquiry which would finally establish all of the facts

We need pro-active policing, not advertising

We need sufficient penalties for those who break the law

Someone to take responsibility for the seriousness of what is happening

Legislation – Sale of boilers ONLY to registered gas installers – Unique number/barcoded, easy to track and trace

Random inspections

No home should be insured unless their gas boiler is certified

In a recent survey of Registered Gas Installers(completed 12th February 2015)

98% said they had no confidence in CER 95% said they had no confidence in RGII 98% said they had no confidence in the regulatory system 98% Would like an independent public inquiry

The system allows illegal's operate unhindered with little or no chance of being prosecuted

IP address 4th Feb 31recci 5th Feb 81/ Theory Office Based System

A level Playing Field

A Proactive approach to finding illegal's.

We want the JOC to provide an independent consultant to investigate the regulatory system