Vol. 410 No. 6
37 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if, following the completion of the first winter in which the purchase of bituminous coal was banned in Dublin, his Department are planning any assessment of the effect of some smokeless solid fuels on fire grates; if he intends to introduce legislation to ensure that petroleum cokes are not sold on their own; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am having an order prepared under section 44 of the Industrial Research and Standards Act, 1961 (No. 20 of 1961) prohibiting the sale of petroleum coke and similar solid fuels which contain less than 2.5 per cent ash by weight on a dry basis, for domestic use, unless (a) (i) the fuel is mixed with other solid fuels so that it makes up not more than 25 per cent by weight of the admixture, or (ii) the fuel is mixed with other solid fuels so that the ash content by weight is equal to or greater than 2.5 per cent on a dry basis; and (b) the fuel is sold in bags on which, or attached to which, certain information relating to the packer of the fuel and the fuel itself must be printed. Notice of the making of the order was advertised in national newspapers on 14 June last and comments were requested by my Department from interested parties.
