'War on turf' - Proposed turf ban becomes key voter issue

With less than two weeks until the election, the proposed Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill, which could severely limit the use of turf and other solid fuels, has become a key issue for rural voters.

Aidan Wynne, PRO of the Turf Cutters of Ireland, recently voiced frustration over this draft legislation targeting solid fuel burning. The new law, proposed on August 8, 2024, aims to end the use of earth, coal, wood, and other solid fuels—a move Wynne warns will leave rural Irish communities freezing.

According to Wynne, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claims 1,600 Irish deaths are linked to air pollution from solid fuels, but he disputes the numbers. “Where are they getting these numbers from? They say 1,600 people die from solid fuels, but they can’t even show us proof. They're numbers pulled outa the sky!” He dismisses the data as unreliable and accuses the government of pushing the bill for political gain, with little regard for its impact on rural communities.

“What is this going to do to our elderly? What are they supposed to do when it’s freezing outside?” Wynne asks. Turf has been a lifeline for generations, but the government’s push to end its use threatens to leave families without affordable heat, especially in rural areas where electric heating is costly and impractical.

“It’s fine to import briquettes from Germany—wrapped in plastic, with no emissions label—but they won’t let us cut our own turf. That’s the double standard!” he exclaims. “Why punish us for something we’ve been doing for centuries?” He argues that the government is not addressing the real causes of air pollution and is instead scapegoating rural families.

Wynne accused the government of using fear to push the legislation. “How is the easiest way for somebody to control somebody? Put fear into them,” he said. “If you have no fuels, no timber, no turf, what are people going to do?”

For Wynne, turf is not just a fuel but a fundamental right. He cited a 1963 Supreme Court ruling that classified turf as an agricultural product, arguing that the proposed restrictions ignore this precedent. “The Minister acted without consulting the ruling of the land.”

He linked the issue to broader concerns about Ireland’s governance and resource management. “They sold our fishing rights, our gas and oil, our forests. Now the final lot to go is our land and our bogs,” he warned.

Wynne reserved special criticism for the Green Party, describing their efforts as leaving “a legacy of disaster in this country.” He feels their push to electrify heating systems in homes is unrealistic, especially in rural areas. “If they have brains, they’d be dangerous,” he remarked, dismissing the idea that a complete switch to electricity is viable. As the election approaches, it’s clear that the turf ban will remain a key issue for rural voters.