Turfed out

Ryan is forced into U-turn on plan to ban peat sales

- FERGHAL BLANEY

GREEN Party leader Eamon Ryan has caved in and will allow the limited sale of turf in small rural communities.

He had wanted a complete ban on the sale of the fuel from September.

That led to a furious reaction on the backbenches from Fine Gael and Fianna Fail TDs representing rural voters.

Independents and Sinn Fein were also calling for a U-turn on the ban.

But now, the Energy Minister is understood to be proposing to make an exception to the turf ban to allow sales to continue in towns or villages of under 500 people.

The regulations are still in draft form with legislators in the Department of Environment.