Truce in ‘turf wars’ as Coalition politicians relieved at revised plans for sales restrictions

There is a truce in the internal Coalition “turf wars” as Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil politicians have expressed relief at revised plans to restrict turf sales but allow small-scale turf cutting.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar’s Fine Gael TDs and Senators were briefed on changes to the proposals on turf sales on earlier on Wednesdy while and Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators were updated on the plans by Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Wednesday evening.

Under the revised plans being developed by Minister for the Environment and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, the sale of turf would be banned in commercial settings like shops and petrol stations as well as online. However, people with turbary rights to cut turf will still be allowed to do so and can sell the fuel to family and neighbours.

The restrictions on the sale of turf are part of Mr Ryan’s plan to ban smoky fuels, primarily coal, nationwide the burning of which is believed to be responsible for 1,300 deaths per year.

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Controversy first arose over the plans earlier this year when Mr Ryan told Fine Gael TD Brendan Griffin that turf-selling was to be banned from September 1st.

In a parliamentary reply, he told the Kerry TD that families would still be allowed to cut peat from traditional plots for domestic use but selling the peat will be prohibited.

Amid unrest among rural TDs, Mr Varadkar suggested in April that the plans could be paused.

A later proposal by Mr Ryan had raised the prospect of an exemption from the ban on turf sales for communities of less than 500 people was also rejected by some in Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

Under the revised proposals discussed by the three Coalition leaders on Monday, there is to be no condition regarding the size of the communities in which sales can take place. There are still technical issues to be worked out and no date for the smoky fuel ban has been set but the indications from within Government are that it could still be imposed this year.

Mr Martin briefed his TDs and Senators on the revised plans for turf at Fianna Fáil’s parliamentary party meeting. He said the Government is finalising the regulations, which he expected will be agreed this week. He said they will ensure measures are introduced to enhance air quality but will not impinge upon practices associated with turf including selling or gifting it through traditional channels.

Laois-Offaly TD Barry Cowen told the meeting the new plan meets the party’s demands and later told the Irish Times: “I’m glad that common sense has eventually been brought to bear on this issue.

“As I said all along, the practice of turf cutting is a diminishing practice save for many dependent and vulnerable households.

“Those same households need to be afforded the option a realistic option with appropriate grant assistance to cater for a specific heat retrofit.”

Laois-Offaly Fine Gael TD Charlie Flanagan was among those who raised concerns in April at the now abandoned proposals to limit the size of the communities where turf could be sold saying at the time that it didn’t appear to be legally enforceable or practical.

He said a Government announcement is still being awaited but he is “more relieved and less worried” after being briefed on the revised plans by Mr Varadkar.

Mr Flanagan also said: “I am pleased my proposals to move away from a foolish attempt to introduce population caps ... is gone. That was a non-runner.”

Huge inconvenience

He said very little turf is sold online and he doesn’t see the ban on shops selling it as a “huge inconvenience”.

Mayo TD Michael Ring — another Fine Gael critic of the original proposals — said the plan was “a good compromise” and that he was “happy with it once people can cut turf and sell it to their neighbours.”

Cork-based Senator Tim Lombard said the proposals appear to be a “real row back” but what’s planned is “a sensible approach”. He said remains concerned that the planned ban on smoky coal may have cost implications on households given the rising prices of the fuel, citing increases of €18 per bag to as much as €36 or €40. He said research must be done on this before the budget so that any increase in the fuel allowance can take this into account.

On Tuesday a Green Party spokesman disputed a suggestion that the changes to the plans to restrict turf sales represented a climbdown. He said the main focus of the planned regulations is to extend the smoky coal ban across the country. He said this “will have a very real effect on reducing the 1,300 deaths every year from air pollution”.