Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has been blasted for not doing his homework when he sent shockwaves through communities after indicating that peat briquettes could also be included in a ban on smoky fuels from September.
Speaking in the Dail on Thursday night during a motion about the sale and distribution of turf put forward by Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice, Minister Ryan said: “I’ll be perfectly honest, I’ve been looking at the science there to make sure, are we absolutely certain that those peat briquettes, because of the way they’re processed, because of the way they burn, are below the 10 micrograms of pollution that’s put out into the atmosphere?
“We have to be straight about that and make sure that it is the case.”
Mr Ryan added that regulations would have to be introduced in the autumn for smoky coal “because we don’t want to go through another winter, particularly if it’s a cold winter, where people are dying unnecessarily.”
Bord na Mona has already said that its briquettes will comply with the ten grams per hour emissions rate.
Speaking to the Irish Mirror, Fianna Fáil TD Barry Cowen said if Minister Ryan had checked with Bord na Mona, he would have been informed that the level of emissions from briquettes are compliant.
He said: “If he had done that he wouldn’t then have given an indication that possibly briquette factories would close two years ahead of the programme closure anyway thus frightening and worrying employees, communities and regions.
“I would have thought in the first instances that the Minister with responsibility in this area, that the likes of Bord an Mona under his remit, he would check with them the level of emissions presently applicable to the peat briquette product, he would have been informed the same as I have that it’s well below the regulations.
“I know if I was the Minister in his place, I’d surely know the levels of emission applicable to the peat briquettes product before I’d stand up in the Dáil and say I didn’t.
“We all know where he wants to get to but it’s the means and methods he’s engaging in to get to that point and he has to be cognisant of that there’s new approved alternatives, there’s ongoing financial assistance only just put in place that needs to be approved upon as well.
“Undoubtedly he’s well intentioned and genuine in his own beliefs and commitments to respond to the public health concerns, worries and fears as we all are.”
The Government is currently in the middle of a consultation process with the European Commission which is examining draft regulations on solid fuels.
Minister Ryan said: "We may have to go back and talk to them again and we will, because we are going to have to amend them.
“Listening to some of the voices and views here.
“But we will get that right and we will introduce it in the autumn in a way that allows us get that balance right.”
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