Peat briquettes could no longer be available for sale by September, according to the Environment Minister.
As the smoky fuel ban comes into play in Ireland, the Irish household staple may be included if it is found to produce excess levels of pollution.
Eamon Ryan said the Government would continue to follow expert advice on smoky fuels and this may see the beloved winter products banned.
"I'll be perfectly honest, I'll be looking at the science there to make sure, are we absolutely certain that those peat briquettes, because of the way they are processed, because of the way they burn, are below the 10 micrograms of pollution that is put out into the atmosphere?" he said on Thursday.
However, RTE News reports that a spokesperson for the Minister said that it is not expected that peat briquettes will be banned as early as September.
They said that Bord na Mona has already begun work to ensure that its briquettes will comply with the accepted emission rates - ten grams per hour.
In line with the new rules, it is expected that all briquette producers will be asked to show proof that they are in compliance.
Meanwhile, Cara Augustenborg, a Professor of Environmental Policy, recently said it could be considered dangerous for people living in certain counties to head for a walk in the winter when solid fuels are being burned.
Ms Augustenborg said it is “very, very strange” that Tanaiste Leo Varadkar would oppose a turf ban when it would save lives.
There is an ongoing debate between Environment Minister Eamon Ryan and the Tánaiste over the incoming laws around burning solid fuels in Ireland, but Ms Augustenborg has said the benefits far outweigh the downside.
Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast last month, the professor said: “In towns like Tralee or Ennis or Enniscorthy or Macroom at some times in the winter on a still, cold night it’s actually dangerous for you to go out and go for a walk because of the burning of the solid fuels.
“So many Governments have tried to ban smoky coal nationwide and they’ve been unsuccessful because of the threats of some non-Irish smoky coal providers who say that this is ‘discriminatory’ against them.”
She said smoky coal isn’t the only fuel causing health issues among the public but that, “there are actually other types of solid fuel that are equally as dangerous including some types of turf and even some types of very wet wood that when they’re burned give off high levels of particulate matter that’s very damaging to our health.
“So this particular Government has used science and said, ‘Okay, we acknowledge that many types of fuel can be damaging to people’s health, so we will look at all those dangerous fuels and we’ll ban the commercial sale of those fuels to protect people around us.”
Augustenborg said she is baffled over the ongoing debate over whether or not to band turf sales, and said: “I find it very, very strange now that suddenly the Tánaiste - a medical doctor I might add! - who knows the health impacts of these kinds of fuels would delay this issue for even one more day and not let other people in Ireland outside Dublin avail of this and protect their health.”
Among the many side effects of breathing pollutants from burning fuel are early death, heart attacks, respiratory disorders, stroke, and asthma, according to a Harvard study.
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