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

The Department is not rejecting anything. It recognises the merit of extending a ban on smoky coal. The issue that has been challenged is whether it is legally robust to have such protections in respect of one fuel product at a time when other fuel products, that have a similar profile regarding polluting affects, are excluded. That is the issue. We need to ensure that in taking action to protect health that we do not inadvertently jeopardise protections already in place. I want to make sure we are on solid ground with any action I take. That is why it will take some time to find a resolution to this issue.

See this speech in context