The organisation coalition says there is no safe level of air pollution for human health.
A failure to fully ban the sale of turf “could cost lives” and would represent an “abandonment of the State’s duty to protect public health”, a coalition of Irish public health organisations has said.
The comments from advocacy group the Climate and Health Alliance come as debate has raged in recent weeks regarding a prospective ban on the sale of commercial turf in Ireland.
Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan has pointed to “huge misinformation and disinformation” on the issue, insisting that rural communities will not be adversely affected as a result of the ban.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin, meanwhile, has said he believes a “pragmatic” solution to the current situation will be found.
The Climate and Health Alliance is made up of a number of public health organisations and advocacy groups from around the island of Ireland, including the Irish Heart Foundation, Irish Doctors for the Environment and the Asthma Society of Ireland.
Spokesperson for the alliance, Mark Murphy, has said in a statement that there is no safe level of air pollution for human health.
“Dirty air continues to cause 1,300 premature deaths every year in Ireland due to stroke, heart disease, COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] and acute lower respiratory infections, while hindering any quality of life by exacerbating symptoms of existing chronic diseases,” he stated.
“We simply cannot allow these countless deaths to continue and let the most vulnerable in our society, who are most at risk from the dangers of air pollution – infants, children and the elderly – suffer.
“It is imperative that these regulations are implemented in full while everything possible is done to minimise the impact of those experiencing energy poverty and relying on turf to heat their homes.
“The Climate and Health Alliance is urging the Government to support these regulations for the benefit of the environment, public health and, ultimately, to save lives.”
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