Joanne Collins (Sinn Fein)

I will start by saying we support the intent and objectives of this Bill. Clearer air is something that we all want for our families, communities and future generations. This legislation represents an important step towards achieving that. We all know, as the Minister of State said previously, that the main sources of air pollution in Ireland are solid fuel burning and transport emissions. While air pollution is often seen as an urban problem, it is still a very real problem for rural Ireland.

Across County Limerick, from Abbeyfeale to Cappamore, from Hospital to Glin, there are communities where families depend on solid fuel for their heating. An open fire and the range still remain a very big part of everyday life and a part of who we are as an island. While I fully support the aim of the Bill to ensure that the fuels being sold are cleaner and safer, we must recognise the cost pressures that people are under. Not every household can afford to buy more expensive, higher standard fuels. We cannot have a cliff edge in this situation where people who are already struggling to heat their homes are pushed into further hardship. Cleaner air cannot come at the expense of those who can least afford it. We need support measures and affordability schemes alongside this legislation to help those people make that transition and not penalise them for circumstances that are beyond their control.

That being said, I do welcome the Bill's provisions to strengthen enforcement powers for the local authorities. For far too long councils, including Limerick City and County Council, have asked for and have sought a task force in order that they can enforce the environmental regulations. They do not have the tools or resources as of yet but this Bill will give that, which is great. It will give them the powers such as the ability to issue on-the-spot fines or seize non-compliant fuels. That is a very positive step which will have an immediate impact on air quality and protect those honest law-abiding businesses that are already doing the right thing. The fuel merchants who register properly, meet the standards and sell clean, compliant products should not be undercut by those who ignore the rules and sell cheaper, dirtier fuels. Crucially, those powers are nothing without the personnel. We really need to look at that side of things. There is no point in giving councils new authority if they do not have the staff to enforce it. Local authorities across the country are already stretched thin. If the Government is serious about enforcement, then the funding and staffing have to follow. Otherwise we are setting up local authorities to fail. It is like adding 1,700 new SNA posts and not filling those posts. The schools look bad in that case because they are not filling the posts.

I am happy to see that the Bill does not interfere with turbary rights or impose new restrictions on householders. That is an important reassurance for rural communities and, in particular, my community. I am surrounded by bogs where people cut their own turf. People with turbary rights can continue to cut and use turf as before. The focus in the Bill is on commercial sale and the supply of fuels, not on the traditional practices that are a part of rural life, something that is great to see.

We also need to think beyond the county lines, which has been said by colleagues across the floor. Air pollution does not recognise boundaries or borders, so we need to consider a North-South initiative. An all-island initiative is needed to combat air pollution. My colleagues in the North have looked at a policy on air pollution, so linking up with the North might be something the Minister and Minister of State could look into. We need co-ordinated regulations, enforcement and public awareness across the island. Sinn Féin has long advocated for that kind of joined-up approach because the environment does not stop at the Border so neither should the solutions. I want to be clear. I support the intent of the Bill but we must ensure that the implementation is fair, properly resourced and part of an all-island strategy.

On the issue of air to water, I live in a house that does not have a solid fuel stove or a fire and, therefore, I completely depend on electricity because it is oil, which is great because there is no mess. However, and the Minister of State will know this as he too lives in a rural area, in the winter, when the electricity goes, my heating goes and I do not have a choice. I am building a home at the moment and, as soon as planning permission was granted, the first thing I did was buy a solid fuel stove. I just had to, because we saw after the last couple of storms where people were weeks with no electricity. It is an awful situation. It is fairly bleak when you cannot heat your house and are sitting in a cold house. This is a great Bill but we cannot consider getting rid of fires and solid fuel stoves. We could not possibly, not until our electricity grid is up to scratch and all the other things that have to go with it, like protected powerlines, that we have spoken about over the last couple of months in the Chamber. If your electricity goes, it is a great idea to have a stove, and I do get that we need to use the correct fuel.

I agree with the intent of this Bill but I would like to see some measures put in place for those who cannot afford to transition immediately to the fuels that have been mentioned.