Energy crisis 'no better time' to reverse turf sale ban - TD
A TD has called for the ban on the commercial sale of turf to be reversed in light of the current pressure on affordability for home heating fuel.
Independent Offaly TD Carol Nolan has called on the government to immediately suspend the ban on the commercial sale of turf, and allow the retail and advertised sale of turf to take place.
She said that turf sales should resume at least for the duration of the energy crisis.
The TD has called on Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O'Brien to lift the ban on turf sales.
"We are importing hundreds of tonnes of peat and briquettes into this country while banning the sale of our own natural resource," Nolan said.
In early 2022, updated solid fuel regulations prohibited the sale or distribution of turf on a commercial basis.
“I warned in 2022 that these rules would cause real hardship and anger in rural communities," she added.
"At the time I described the proposed ban on the commercial sale of turf as a complete cave-in by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to a bizarre Green Party nanny-state agenda that was determined to infantilise rural Ireland," the Independent TD said.
Nolan said that rural communities in Offaly and across the Midlands "have relied on turf for generations".
"Indeed, it is not just fuel, it is part of our culture, our heritage and, for many households, the only affordable way to stay warm."
She claimed that the current regulations - which prohibits advertising and retail of turf while allowing only limited turf use through private arrangements for those with turbary rights - have "created confusion, anger and genuine hardship".
"The government’s own policy has left us in the absurd position of importing fuel while criminalising the sale of our own," the TD added.
"Enough is enough. I am demanding that the ban on turf sales be suspended immediately so that retail and advertised sales can resume," Nolan said.
Fuel costs
The sharp increase in fuel costs has impacted agricultural diesel as well as home heating fuel.
The Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) will meet with government this week to outline the impact of rising fuel costs on the sector.
The FCI is due to have discussions with Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris, and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon.
Norman Egar, FCI national chair, and Ann Gleeson Hanrahan, FCI managing director, will attend on behalf of the association.
It is understood that the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) will also be present for the meeting.
