Micheál Martin calls for smoky coal ban in Northern Ireland

A ban on the burning of smoky coal was intorduced in Dublin in the 1990s

Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin has called for a ban on the burning of smoky coal in Northern Ireland.

Speaking in the Dáil (lower house of parliament), Mr Martin said there was "a lot of smoky coal coming into the Republic".

A ban on smoky coal was introduced in Dublin in the 1990s.

"The north should ban it as well. They should deal with it", he added.

The taoiseach made the remarks while being questioned about his government's proposed commercial ban on the sale of turf.

Mr Martin said Fine Gael's Fergus O'Dowd, who had spoken earlier, was right when he said there needed to be "a major clampdown" on the sale and advertising of smoky solid fuels.

The real issue, he continued, was smoky coal.

The proposal to ban the sale of turf has met strong criticism from backbench TDs (members of parliament) in coalition partners Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

But those in favour of the measure remind people of the health benefits of the ban on smoky coal in Dublin.

The environment minister says a solution that will respect the traditional reliance on turf in rural areas can be found

The Republic of Ireland's environment minister and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said the measure was necessary.

He said air pollution was responsible for about 1,300 deaths in the country every year.

"Ignoring air quality, ignoring air pollution and ignoring the fact that it's killing our people - I don't think that's an option or a solution," the minister said.

The main opposition party, Sinn Féin, has signalled its rejection.

It has questioned the need for such a ban at a time of rising fuel prices and questioned the practicalities of imposing it.

Legal enforcement

Eamon Ryan will address Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael TDs later ahead of the Dáil Éireann (Irish lower house of parliament) debate.

He said he believed a solution could be found that would both reduce pollution and respect the traditional reliance on turf in some rural areas, particularly the midlands.

He had previously clarified that those who sold or gifted small amounts of turf to family members and neighbours would not be penalised.

It is also understood one of the minister's proposals includes exempting small rural communities from the ban on sales.

But some backbench TDs wonder whether that is legally enforceable.

The issue was discussed by the leaders of the three coalition parties - Mr Martin, the tánaiste (deputy prime minister) Leo Varadkar and Mr Ryan - on Monday night.

The taoiseach has said he believes a "pragmatic solution" can be found.