Ban on turf sales will lead to smuggling, says TD

The ban on turf being advertised for sale will cause people to travel north where they can still purchase and sell turf legally, according to a midlands TD.

New Solid Fuel Regulations came into effect on Monday last and restrict the retail, online and commercial sale of smoky fuels, including smoky coal, turf and wet wood.

Speaking on Newstalk, Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice said: “Plenty of it will come across the border. They’ve done it before; we all heard about the diesel that came across and this will be no different.”

Deputy Fitzmaurice continued: “There’s plenty of fuels will come across the border and Minister [Eamon] Ryan will actually, probably, do more harm than good.”

The local TD has also supported calls to reopen local power stations to help people keep the lights on this winter. “The first thing we need to do is keep people warm and also keep food on the table. In the middle of an energy crisis and a war going on it's very important that a politician puts their people first. If the lights go out you need something to keep you warm.”

Deputy Fitzmaurice added: “Winter is coming. We're not going to magically basically create electricity out of nothing and what we have to do is what ever resources is there, be it gas, be it wind, be it coal, be it a bit of turf what ever has to be used. We've got to make sure the people of this country are not afraid of facing into the winter.”

“We would notice that people just cut enough for their own house and their own fire but I would urge people if they have any spare bit if there's any people in desperate situations to make sure that they help them out... The timber merchants and the coal merchants are inundated with calls of people being afraid.”