Plans for turf ban described as 'unfair and unworkable'

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Sinn Fein says plans to impose a ban on the sale of turf are unfair and unworkable.

Environment Minister Eamon Ryan has announced the proposed ban will come in to effect on September 1st, and insisted again last night that the measure will not be paused.

However the Tanaiste Leo Vardakar dismissed that saying he hadn't even seen the proposed legislation, therefore nothing had been agreed and he would not personally be a in favour of anything that would outlaw the tradition of people selling turf to friends and neighbours.

Sinn Fein TD for Roscommon-Galway Claire Kirrane says the Government has shown no consideration for older people who live in rural areas that are dependent on turf for heat:

"We will have older people and people in rural communities making really difficult decisions and we will have them going cold in their homes because the reality is, they are reliant on turf."

"They buy it from a neighbour by the bag because sometimes they can't afford to buy more, or they'd buy a trailer of it coming up to the winter and these are the people that are going to be affected by this possible ban."

Now the Foreign and Affairs and Defence Minister Simon Coveney says the proposals which could outlaw people selling or gifting turf from their own bogs, is a sensitive one.

He says rural Ireland needs to be consulted on the issue.