Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I do not doubt the sincerity of the Minister. I am raising this issue because people feel let down. They have come to me as the former Minister with responsibility in this area. The strategy was to be announced by the middle of last year, if not before. The Minister has committed to a smoky coal ban by 2018 on the record of the Dáil. Since notification must be made one year in advance to those selling the product, the process has to commence now. Otherwise, it will not be until 2019. The announcement is required one year in advance. Sellers have to get through their stock. It is already out there. I presume the Minister will announce his plan in the coming days because otherwise, it will be impossible for it to be in place in 2018.

The clean air strategy covers a range of different sectoral issues, including transport, agriculture, peatlands and so on. These are major issues and addressing them will take time, but this issue need not. Unfortunately, the problem affects children and adults throughout the country. I can visualise children playing on pitches. I referenced the town of Enniscorthy because it was one of the worst in the UCC study. Children in such places are going to get sick. Some will get very unwell. Unfortunately, people may die because this is postponed for another year.

I appeal to the Minister to do this. Everything was put in place. I do not accept the explanation about people not transferring from one Department to another when there was a change of ministerial responsibility. That is not a good enough excuse for the situation these families have been left in.

See this speech in context