Keane Harley:KEANE HARLEY, who has died aged 79, was a founder member of the Electro-Technical Council of Ireland (ETCI) and dedicated his life's work to improving standards of electrical safety in Ireland.
He was also one of the founders of the Register of Electrical Contractors of Ireland (RECI) in 1992, and its first chairman.
He was directly involved in the foundation of the National Electrotechnical Committee, a forerunner of the ETCI, in November 1970. He represented the ESB on this body, and when the technical committees were set up he was appointed chairman of the committee dealing with wiring rules.
As Irish membership of the Common Market loomed, he and his committee organised the industry and prepared wiring regulations for Ireland in accordance with international standards.
In order to achieve the highest standards throughout the country, it was necessary to gain the support of the whole industry. So, a national representative body was formed, organised on the lines of organisations across Europe, covering all aspects of electrical safety and standards. Keane Harley persuaded the ESB to back the project and the ETCI was born.
Born in Dublin in 1928, he was one of the two sons of Keane Finbarr and Josephine Harley. The family lived in Dundrum, but when he was three moved to Booterstown, where he lived all his life.
Educated at Blackrock College, he studied mechanical and electrical engineering at University College Dublin, qualifying in 1952.
He began his career as an electrical engineer with the ESB in the early 1950s and served as assistant to the head of rural electrification, PJ Dowling. He next had a managerial role in installations, retiring from the ESB in 1992 as manager of commercial energy services.
He did a great deal of research work, which included correspondence on developments and innovations in countries such as Australia, the UK and the US.
With the publication in 1976 of the first edition of the national wiring rules, dealing with technical queries and solutions became part of his work. Each time the rules were updated he was to the fore in the organisation and technical presentation of ETCI's industry seminars.
In April 1975 he led the first Irish delegation to a meeting in Amsterdam of the European Committee for Electrical Standardisation. For the following three decades he presented and defended Irish interests in Europe.
His interests ranged from golf to art and DIY. A former vice-president of Dún Laoghaire golf club, he was also a member of Dooks golf club in Glenbeigh, Co Kerry.
He is survived by his wife Lyn, sons Keane and Brendan and daughters Caroline, Joan and Suzanne.
• Keane Harley: born October 25th, 1928; died August 9th, 2008