Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)

I raise an issue that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand when I saw it last week on Facebook. It was a Government-backed campaign on the dangers of burning solid fuel like coal, turf and sticks, the very things that have kept people in rural Ireland alive for centuries. The ad goes on to state, "Lighting an open fire or stove causes harmful emissions that linger in the air, harming your health and the health of your family, neighbours and community." The leaflet goes on to ask:

Who is most at risk? Burning solid fuels in an open fire or stove harms everyone's health, but children, older people, pregnant women and those with underlying conditions are most at risk.

That is Covid-level fear-mongering. People who light fires are the new granny killers. The choice created by this advert is sit in the cold and freeze or feel guilty for trying to stay alive by lighting a fire to keep warm, thereby, inadvertently but slowly, killing your neighbours and friends. All over this country there are people living below the poverty line and struggling to manage the cost of living. Over one quarter of people aged 65 and over live alone and those living alone face the highest poverty risk of all. My advice to anyone sitting at home trying to keep warm in the upcoming cold snap is light the fire and do not be left waiting for the HSE or some NGO to notify you that you may be suffering from hypothermia. We cannot allow the vulnerability of older people to be framed as a moral failure. The Government needs to focus on spiralling energy costs rather than preachy campaigns telling us not to light fires.