Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this debate and the Minister of State. I will concentrate on air quality and related issues and the future of all our health. The Environmental Protection Agency tells us that since the regulations controlling air pollution were introduced in 2015, some 1,300 people die annually as a direct result of solid fuel emissions from home heating and fires. One problem is that there is no enforcement of those regulations. The regulators are the local authorities. I reckon about 9,100 people have died as a direct result of air pollution from fossil fuels since 2015. The number of prosecutions in 2015 was two, in 2016 it was two, in 2017 there were none, in 2018 there was one, in 2019 there was one. Those are the only figures we have now. There is a great need for really fierce enforcement of these regulations. It is entirely unacceptable that local authorities huff and puff and do nothing about these deaths in our communities. It goes further. Much of this solid fuel is coming into the South from across the Border. We need a major clampdown of cross-Border sale of solid fuels on online platforms to protect our health and avoid illegal advertising. Suppliers are advertising solid fuels that may not comply with regulations due to be introduced here as part of our climate change policy. I looked online and found many examples of the abuse of solid fuel regulations and VAT and carbon tax avoidance. It is appalling. These are in nationally known publications such as the Irish Farmers' Journal, adverts.ie, DoneDeal and so on. There are companies supplying and guaranteeing delivery anywhere in Ireland of Colombian coal at €360 a tonne. First, that breaches the regulations on smoky fuel in urban areas but second, it cannot possibly be delivered at €360 a tonne unless those selling it are avoiding carbon tax. Carbon tax is clearly being avoided and our health is being destroyed in many areas by this illegal and unacceptable importation.

What power does Revenue have on this? Sadly it has no power to stop any cross-Border transport or movement of goods such as coal, according to a response to a parliamentary question. It cannot stop it because obviously there has to be free movement of goods. Solid fuel carbon tax payments are collected on self-assessment. No one is stopping these guys crossing the Border to check if people are paying their tax, the sort of coal they are delivering and where they are delivering to or to see if they are breaking any regulations. I have evidence that smoky bituminous coal is being delivered, unchallenged and unregulated, by Northern Ireland couriers into homes in smokeless zones in the South. That is absolutely unacceptable. It is unregulated and no one is doing anything about it. We are turning a blind eye. It goes back to the Deputy's point. What the hell are we doing? Let us get real and save lives; let us improve our air quality. All this is causing very serious harm. The Minister will be aware that the programme for Government supports a much more aggressive, regional approach, working with Revenue and other agencies to make sure that this stops. But it ain't stopping now. If anyone cares to write to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to ask what it is doing about the false and misleading advertising of solid fuel in the South, he or she will learn that it is doing nothing. It is still considering the matter. I complained in August 2021 and still await an outcome. It does suggest to the complainant that maybe the complainant could go to the Circuit Court or High Court for an order to prohibit these guys from doing what they are doing, which is breaking the law left, right and centre, all around our country.

That is not good enough from the State agencies and is not acceptable.

In summary, if we really mean to make changes and we really are about our business, then we must ensure the air we breathe is safe and fit for purpose. The fact is all the air sampling points in this country fail the WHO requirements on air pollution. We do not meet any of the WHO standards. One may ask why. It is because our European standards are brought in by the coal-producing countries that influence the EU. It is not good enough. We need new standards. We need them now. We should insist on the World Health Organization standards, which are 50% more rigorous than the present maximums we allow. We should change to those air quality standards and be significantly more aggressive in our approach to safeguarding our lives and the quality of air we breathe in all our homes. It is time for action. I agree with Deputy Leddin. As a Government and as an Opposition it is time we demand that change. The time has come for it. Let us not delay any longer.

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