Ireland to phase out incandescent bulbs in favour of LED lights

Incandescent lights are likely to be withdrawn from Ireland’s supermarket shelves in order to introduce more energy-saving lighting such as LED bulbs.

Proposals from John Gormley, minister for the environment, reveals plans to withdraw incandescent bulbs from the market next year.

“I’m doing this in the context of our own climate change strategy,” Mr Gormley told the Irish Times.

“It’s quite significant and we really can’t hang around on this.”

Both screwtop and bayonet-type bulbs classified as over 75 watts may be banned from supermarket shelves in March 2009 with retailers given three months to sell old stock.

Those that continue to sell the bulbs could face fines or imprisonment.

By 2010 other traditional lighting sources, such as halogen bulbs, may also be taken off the market.

Officials from the Department of the Environment have stated that LED technology is likely to replace incandescent bulbs in the future as it is more energy-efficient.

The European Union is set to vote next month on introducing a ban on incandescent bulbs.