Clean air is a vital public health interest and it is inseparable from the challenge of climate change. In 1990, while Minister of State, Mary Harney introduced a ban on smoky coal use within the Dublin region. This decision had a very radical and beneficial impact on public health and the environment. It saved many lives and improved the quality of health in others, as well as the quality of our lived environment. It was a decision and not an announcement; substance as opposed to spin; and a concrete action as opposed to a promise never delivered. Thirty years later, it is incomprehensible that our past two Fine Gael-led Governments have failed to introduce a nationwide ban on smoky coal despite numerous promises from Ministers to do so.

Former Ministers, including Phil Hogan and Deputies Kelly and Naughten, promised to bring forward such a ban, but no action or decision followed.

A recent report on air quality published by the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, revealed the degree to which air pollution in towns not covered by the ban exceeded World Health Organization air quality guidelines. For example, Enniscorthy continually has the highest observed concentrations of air pollutants of all monitoring stations in Ireland, with a 20% higher level of pollutants PM2.5 and PM10 than in Dublin or Cork. Professor John Sodeau of UCC is particularly critical of the Government's inaction on this issue and raised concerns that the public health and climate change consequences for the areas not covered by the ban on smoky coal were very severe. This air particulate pollution attacks every cell in the body and carries carcinogens, heavy metals and acids. Up to 1,500 lives are lost annually as a result of diseases linked with it. Based on promises made by the Government, some manufacturers invested millions in order to be in a position to produce smokeless coal, but they have been left high and dry.

Yesterday the Taoiseach announced a welcome U-turn on his position on fossil fuel exploration, albeit we learned that licence applications would be accepted for the Celtic Sea and the Irish Sea on an ongoing basis. He had previously poured scorn on and refused to back legislation aimed at doing the same thing. Given that we have never discovered oil, it was, perhaps, easier for him to make that announcement than to ban smoky coal as promised by three Ministers but never delivered on. The real point is that action speaks louder than words. Ireland is one of the worst performers in Europe in terms of air pollution and climate change. The State will miss its 2020 EU targets by a staggering amount. Why did three former Ministers promise to extend the smoky coal ban but then take no further action? Was there lobbying by vested interests and, if so, by whom and when? I ask the Minister to send the details to me if he does not have the information before him. Does he accept that there is an apartheid approach to clean air in this country, with people living in 20% of it being condemned to breathing in carcinogens, heavy metals and acids?

I reject entirely the idea that the Government is looking to bring forward or overseeing any form of apartheid in having clean air. I do so because I agree with the opening points made by the Deputy about the importance of clean air and its significant impact on public health. I will raise with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Bruton, the issue of why commitments regarding a nationwide ban on smoky coal were not followed up. He is well aware of the importance of clean air. The climate action plan published by the Government includes many steps which outline how we are looking to make progress in areas that matter in terms of public health. There are steps additional to those outlined by the Deputy which will help us to make progress in ensuring we will have cleaner air across the country. I hope we will be able to make progress in that regard in the coming weeks and months. I will revert to the Deputy at a later point, possibly during the course of this session, with an answer to his specific question as to why the commitments given have not been implemented.

Obviously, the Minister has a lot on his plate and is probably not up to speed on the wider debate on this issue, which I raised in the House in June. It has also been raised by Deputy James Browne and others. The reality is that there is apartheid in terms of air quality in this country because the smoky coal ban has not been extended nationwide, in spite of the promises of former Ministers, including Phil Hogan and Deputies Kelly and Naughten. The EPA's report indicates that there have been approximately 12 breaches of environmental safety limits since last Christmas and that asthma sufferers in Enniscorthy, New Ross and Gorey, for example, have been warned to stay indoors at these times. There is apartheid. In places where the ban is not in effect air quality is far poorer and damages people's health. The situation is not equal across the country in that regard.

The promises were made and announced, on foot of which some manufacturers invested in facilities and processes to produce smokeless coal. They have been left high and dry as a result. The Minister was warned that certain coal importers were threatening to take legal action. I am surprised that he was not aware of it. The smokeless fuel regulations were brought forward in Dublin city and county in 1990. The figure is now up to 80%. Despite all of the promises in the past eight years, the ban has not been extended. That cuts to the core point. It is easy to announce and promise things, but it is something altogether different to deliver them on the ground and make them a reality.

I am well aware of the importance of clean air and the damaging effect air quality can have on public health, particularly the health of young infants. It is something on which we must and will make progress. I have since been informed that it is something the Minister, Deputy Bruton, wishes to make happen. As the Deputy said, there is the possibility of legal action being taken. I am told that the Minister is concluding work with the Attorney General on legislation and an approach that we believe will be robust in dealing with the matter. I agree him that clean air is something everyone on this island and in this country should be able to access. However, as he pointed out, it is damaging to bring things forward that one cannot operate; therefore, the Minister is taking some time to conclude the work with the Attorney General. I am sure he will conclude it soon and implement the legislation to ensure everybody will have access to clean air.