Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

The amendment proposes to insert in section 9 a new provision regarding the sealing and labelling requirements for fuel bags under fuel regulations. As I stated this morning, turf and timber are exempt from the regulations. In section 10, the ban on the sale and marketing of certain fuels in restricted areas applies to coal with a gross calorific value of less than 24 megajoules - bituminous coal - and any unit of solid fuel with a sulphur content greater than 2%. Therefore, as turf and wood have a sulphur content much lower than 2%, there is no restriction on these fuels being sold in restricted areas. Labelling requirements are to aid the enforcement activities of authorised officers. Authorised officers do not target turf or wood and as such, the amendment is not required.