The Tánaiste will recall that it is many years since we had the first ban on smoky coal and a clean air strategy that affects many of our towns. We were promised a national clean air strategy to enforce a national ban on bituminous coal. For some reason that I cannot get my head around, the current Government has decided to delay that. My questions are very direct and simple. When will we have a national smoky coal ban and when will the national clean air strategy be published?

I am very disappointed, as I am sure the Deputy is, that despite two Ministers before me indicating there would be a smoky coal ban, there has been a legal challenge to that. I am seeking advice from the Attorney General as to how this can be done in a legally robust way. I have also asked the Environmental Protection Agency to assemble detailed data for us about the state of the air quality in various towns. I am very keen to proceed with this but I have to do so in a way that will be the legally robust.

What of the national clean air strategy?

The national clean air strategy will proceed and this is one of the items everyone wanted to see included.

Has the Minister set a date for publication?

We have not set a date because we are seeking to resolve this issue, which is an integral part of what we are hoping to deliver.