Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I explained in my earlier comments the precise source of the problem. It is not just smoky coal because it is also peat and wood. I fully acknowledge that scientific evidence has strengthened concern over air pollution from particulate matter, in particular. The House would not thank me if I came forward with regulations that collapsed and were not robust. The Deputies would regard it as prudent for me to seek to have proposals that are robust and stand up to legal challenge. I would not be doing any service to the people of Enniscorthy or anywhere else if I did not do that. It is with this in mind that I am taking care to ensure that what I do is robust and effective.

We have made significant progress on air quality. We will meet the targets to reduce sulphur dioxide by 65%, nitrogen oxide by 49%, non-methane volatile organic compounds by 25%, and particulate matter by 18%. We will meet the targets set but I fully recognise that we have to do a lot better and introduce measures for the ambitions we have for the next decade.

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