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An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that neither he nor the Government is proposing a ban on burning turf or wood in homes.
The turf debate ignited this week on the back of reports that the Government could ask the public if they wanted to ban the burning of smoky coal, turf and wood.
The Department of Climate Action would not confirm to the Irish Farmers Journal if this was the case. However, a spokesperson said coal firms have indicated they would challenge any proposal to expand the ban on smoky coal.
“The basis of their challenge is that a nationwide smoky coal ban cannot be introduced without a nationwide ban on the burning of peat, turf and wet wood because these products produce similar levels of pollution,” the spokesperson said.
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