Legislation to protect consumers from rogue electrical contractors was published by Fine Gael yesterday. Its public enterprise spokesman, Mr Jim Higgins, said the Bill to regulate the sector could save lives.
The move was welcomed by RECI, the 2,300-member register of electrical contractors. It said safety and standards of electrical work needed to be addressed. A second body, the Electrical Contractors Safety and Standards Association, has 1,600 members.
Mr Higgins said substandard installations in homes had led to fires, electrocutions and substantial loss of life in recent years. Standards had improved since the two bodies were set up, he said.
A Fianna Fáil TD, Mr Noel O'Flynn, said a Government electricity Bill to be published soon would give a commission "the necessary powers to take up its proposed role".