May 4, 2021 5:03 pm
A bill seeking the full ban on the sale of smoky coal will be introduced in the Seanad this week.
The bill, Clean Air (Smoky Coal Ban) Bill 2021, has been brought forward by Fianna Fáil senator Timmy Dooley.
Speaking last week, senator Dooley recalled the sale of smoky coal being banned in some parts of the country as early as the 1990s in an effort to address air pollution.
“Winter smog, at the time, was a growing problem in urban areas due to the widespread use of bituminous coal,” the senator said.
“This, in turn, had given rise to serious health effects in the population. Smoky coal affects sulphur dioxide levels and these levels showed considerable improvement once the ban was introduced.”