Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)

I move amendment No. 2:

In page 10, before section 9, but in Part 3, to insert the following new section:

"9.—For the purposes of clarity, the offences regarding sealing and labelling of fuel bags as set out in the Air Pollution Act, 1987 (Marketing, Sale and Distribution of Fuels) Regulations 1998 (S.I. No. 118 of 1998), and Air Pollution Act, 1987 (Marketing, Sale and Distribution of Fuels) (Amendment) Regulations 2011(S.I. No. 270 of 2011) shall not include domestic sale of firewood, turf and peat.".

The Minister alluded to this matter this morning. This amendment seeks to remove from provisions regarding fuel bags set out in the Act the sale of firewood, turf and peat.

Like the Government parties we want the labelling and sealing of bags of solid fuel to be regulated so that smokeless fuels are used in smokeless zones. Customers should not be able to erroneously buy smoky fuel because it has been labelled as smokeless. There must be labelling of anthracite, coal and fossil fuels of that type but it is not necessary to seal these bags because customers in a fuel depot can recognise if the contents are firewood or ordinary peat, or turf as it is called in the country. With regard to turf or wood we feel it is important that the amendment be included.