About half of the traditional lightbulbs on sale in Ireland will be banned next March, under Government plans announced today.

The Republic's Environment Minister John Gormley said he believed that by forcing consumers to switch to more energy efficient alternatives they would help cut greenhouse gases.

It would also save householders' money, as the new-style light bulbs use less energy and last longer than the traditional types, he claimed.

"The proposed standard will offer significant benefits for consumers in terms of reducing the cost of lighting and for the environment in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to climate change," he said.

"It provides a great opportunity for individuals to actively engage in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to reduce their carbon footprint."

Mr Gormley has published his proposal, in a consultation paper, to withdraw all traditional bulbs from the market starting with 75W and above from March.

This first phase will target ordinary incandescent tungsten filament bulbs and low energy-efficient incandescent tungsten filament halogen bulbs.

"With more energy efficient alternatives now widely available, the proposed standard is a sensible and timely measure in terms of reducing both the carbon intensity and cost of general lighting," said Mr Gormley.

The consultation paper, available on http://www.environ.ie , outlines details of the proposed standard that will be rolled out over the coming years.

Belfast Telegraph