Councillors slam as ‘absolutely bonkers’ solid fuel regulations

MAYO general election candidate Patsy O’Brien has hit out at proposed regulations on the burning of solid fields, branding it as the ‘most serious thing that has happened since foundation of state’.

Cllr O’Brien said he had been contacted by an 88-year-old man who feared he would no longer be allowed to burn turf to heat his home because of the new regulations.

Under proposed legislation, local authorities would be given powers to confiscate and destroy unapproved smoky fuels and, in some cases, raid private dwellings in breach of air pollution regulations.

Since October 31 2022, the sale of bituminous coal, poorly dried timber and most turf has been outlawed.

The yet-to-be-finalised proposals could see county councils given the power to confiscate fuel, stop cars and search properties to enforce the regulations.

Households with turbary rights are still allowed to cut, gift and sell turf. Selling turf online or in retail premises has been banned, however.

Cllr O’Brien warned that there would be ‘upheaval’ if the new regulations were signed into law.

“This could be signed into law before the termination of this government, which would mean that probably people wouldn’t be able to have a fire, a solid fuel fire. It’s the most serious thing that has happened since the foundation of the state,” Cllr O’Brien told the monthly meeting of Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District.

“If this comes into fruition, how are they going to survive in relation to this?”

Cllr O’Brien called for ‘common sense’ to be used regarding the issue of air pollution, which leads to thousands of premature deaths in Ireland each year.

Representatives from the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District have voted to write to national representatives in Mayo to outline their position on the proposed regulations.

This was proposed by Cllr O’Brien and seconded by the Cathaoirleach of Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District, Cllr Damien Ryan, who suggested that they write to national representatives.

“Clarity should be put into position,” said Cllr O’Brien. “There’s people going around there today who don’t know whether they can have a fire next year or not. How in the name of God will people survive? There is no common sense at all to this.”

Cllr Richard Finn (Independent) supported Cllr O’Brien’s position, describing the new regulations as ‘another scam, essentially, to try and stop people going to the bog’.

Fine Gael councillor Neil Cruise echoed calls for clarity on the matter and suggested that the council ‘revoke or rescind’ their 2021 declaration of a climate and biodiversity emergency.

“We’re only leading into this carry-on that’s scaring people. We need to re-look at those things,” Cllr Cruise said.

Aontú county councillor Paul Lawless branded the solid fuel regulations as ‘another contradictory policy’ by the government.

In a later statement, Cllr Lawless labelled the proposed regulations as ‘one of the most radical and hardline anti-rural proposals we have seen in this country’.

“It is both unbelievable and outrageous that criminals can roam the streets terrorising people in this constituency, yet families and the elderly in Co Mayo could go to jail just for trying to keep themselves warm. It’s absolutely bonkers”.