Richard Bruton
Question:16 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Energy whether he has completed his study of the availability of smokeless solid fuels this winter for the Dublin market; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions Oral Answers. - Smokeless Fuels.
Meetings with several of the main solid fuel distributors have been held over the past couple of months. These discussions were designed to ensure plans for adequate supplies of imported and of home produced fuel products complying with the smoke requirements, and to resolve queries which the distributors wished answered to enable them to finalise supply arrangements for the Dublin area next winter.
My Department will continue to assess closely the availability of smokeless solid fuels for the Dublin market through direct contact with all of the distributors by the end of June.
I have two questions. Has the Minister conducted any testing of these fuels to ensure that they are what they claim to be in regard to smoke emissions? Does he plan to make available to consumers some system of certification of the quality of fuels? I foresee there will be a huge variety of fuels of very different qualities and it will be difficult for the consumer to distinguish what he is being offered and what price he is being offered them at. Will the Minister agree that he can usefully set standards and link those standards to prices being charged?
The Department of the Environment avail of the services of Eolas to carry out tests on fuels in regard to their smoke emissions. The Deputy asked about certification. He can be assured that the Department, and the Department of the Environment under their regulations, will only allow the sale of smokeless fuel or fuel that has substantially reduced smoke emission following determination in the matter. From discussions and examinations that have taken place so far it would seem at this point that the solid fuel products that will be available to meet the market demands are "Coalite", Bord na Móna briquettes, rheinbraun Union nuggets, anthracite, "Extracite", petroleum coke — low sulphur — wood or logs. I have not given them in any order of priority.
Does the Minister not foresee a danger that some of these products such as petroleum coke could be marketed as "Coalite"? They are indistinguishable to the consumer, and that would be a very unfair trick on consumers. Could the Government in some way provide certification to ensure that products being marketed are what they claim to be?
"Coalite" is a brand name belonging to a particular company.
It has been suggested that products——
I presume they have a patent on their trade mark and that it would be illegal for somebody to use the term "Coalite" on a product if it was not from the manufacturer of that product. The Department will approve only of certain products which have been tested and come within the requirements laid down by the Department of the Environment. Extensive inspection will be carried out throughout the period to ensure that cowboys do not get in on the act. It will be difficult for everybody from 1 September.
In view of the prohibition order of the Minister of State, Deputy Harney, does the Minister not anticipate quite a variety of fuels coming on the market by next October in the guise of smokeless or less smokey fuels? What procedures are there for monitoring this? This is going to be like the shebeens in the American prohibition era. Is the Minister aware of the chaos that will ensue in the coming months when coal will be sold widely under all sorts of different guises?
The Minister, the Minister for the Environment and the Government generally are fully aware of the enormity of the change that has to take place in the solid fuel market in the Dublin area from next September. A tremendous amount of work is being undertaken at present in an effort to ensure smooth transition into the new situation. Discussions are ongoing at a high level with the potential suppliers and with the people testing the quality of the various products. I believe that by the time the operative date for this order comes into place adequate procedures will have been put in place and will be in operation following the work of the Minister for the Environment and of my own Department with regard to these matters. It is going to be a very big change particularly for the consumer. There will be people anxious to capitalise on the new situation, those who want to make a quick buck, and we must have procedures in place to ensure that they do not get away with it. My role in this is to ensure there are adequate supplies of the proper quality of smokeless fuel products in place for the consumer come 1 September. I think all parties here support the ban on the sale of bituminous coal in Dublin, and I appeal to all parties to co-operate in whatever way they can.
Prohibition does not work and never did. It will not work here.
Is the Deputy suggesting we should not have done it and that his party are opposed to it?
Yes.
The Deputy wants——
Implementation of the Act is the wrong procedure.
Perhaps I could have expected the cop out to come from The Workers' Party. I am sure the responsible parties here will want to see this work and I make my appeal to everybody including the Deputy to co-operate to try to assure a smooth transition.
It is designed to save money.
It will not save money. The State is already putting up £3 million to ease the extra financial cost which will fall on families in Dublin. It is the generally expressed wish of the majority of the people that we should take action in regard to the smog problem affecting Dublin. The Deputy's party were among those who highlighted the problem. We want to remove the problem from next winter onwards.
It is being done in Ballyfermot.
I am surprised to hear the Deputy seeking to detract from the measures being taken.