Vol. 409 No. 3
3 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for Energy if he will ensure that a clear standard grading system for smokeless solid fuels is introduced before next winter in order to eliminate the many difficulties experienced with the wide range of fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
47 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Energy if he will ensure that a grading system for smokeless solid fuels is introduced before next winter in order to eliminate the many difficulties consumers experienced with the huge and confusing number of fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 47 together.
The introduction of standards is a matter for the Minister for Industry and Commerce. I understand that preparation of a standard for smokeless fuels is under consideration, but that it would take some time and resources to develop.
I hope that as people become more used to using these fuels much of the difficulty which has arisen will disappear. EOLAS will of course continue to give advice on the use of fuels. Earlier this week the Solid Fuel Advisory Confederation produced a booklet entitled the Solid Fuel Heating Directory 1991, the aim of which is to provide information about the wide variety of solid fuels and appliances on the market.
Does the Minister share my view that one of the difficulties people faced last year while coping with the wide variety of fuels undermined the attempt to improve the environment in Dublin and that it is vital to get it right this year? Will the Minister's Department through EOLAS be working with the Solid Fuel Advisory Confederation to ensure a proper grading system, which I believe is the answer to this problem, which will clearly identify fuels in relation to the various qualities that are relevant to the consumer, their firing ability, their heating ability, their sparking qualities, etc? Does he see any role for himself in this?
First, I have to disagree vehemently with the Deputy that attempts to clean up the environment in Dublin by taking action against smoky fuels have been undermined. If anything that has been a success, as the monitoring facilities have so dramatically recorded.
That is not what I said.
We are all very pleased. There has been some difficulty in regard to some of the fuels, one in particular, petro-coke, which the suppliers by way of agreement among themselves withdrew from the market because it was dangerous to use on its own and it must be mixed with some other fuel. That information was disseminated widely. I accept there will still be people who may not be aware of it but at least now it is not being supplied on its own on the market.
I have to say that if the remaining question in the name of Deputy Mary Flaherty is to be disposed of it must be replied to now.
I will hold on to that for another occasion. May I ask a final supplementary to Question No. 3?
Sorry, Deputy, the time for disposing of the remainder of these questions——
You were going to give me time for Question No. 4. The Minister is showing the fact that he is not a Dublin representative in that he fails to appreciate the difficulties Dubliners have——
The Deputy is going to deprive me from calling Question No. 4.
——with smokeless fuel.
