Solid Fuel Merchants Ireland

Politician(s) lobbied: Dara Calleary (Minister), Department of Social Protection

Intent: Introduction of a compliance-linked Fuel Allowance model tied to registered compliant fuel merchants

Methods: Submission

Politician(s) lobbied: Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment

Intent: Intended results included securing Government consideration and support for a targeted Solid Fuel Decarbonisation Fund, enabling compliant retailers to invest in cleaner fuel technologies and infrastructure, supporting a just transition for rural and off-grid households, improving air quality outcomes, and ensuring that national decarbonisation measures remain practical, fair and inclusive for communities reliant on solid fuels.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Mark Duffy (Senator), Seanad

Intent: Intended results included securing continued engagement with the Senator on the Air Pollution (Amendment) Bill 2025 and to include a ban on burning bituminous coal, improving transparency and consistency within product certification and testing processes, strengthening enforcement measures against non-compliant operators, protecting compliant businesses, and supporting fair and effective regulation aligned with Ireland’s environmental and clean air objectives.

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; Jim O'Callaghan (Minister), Department of Justice; Simon Harris (Minister), Department of Finance

Intent: Intended results included securing Government consideration and support for the , strengthening enforcement and compliance within the solid fuel sector, improving coordination between relevant agencies, protecting compliant businesses from illegal competition, safeguarding Exchequer revenues, and supporting Ireland’s clean air and environmental policy objectives.

Methods: Submission

Politician(s) lobbied: Unknown

Intent: To secure Seanad support for an amendment to ban the burning of smoky coal, aligning enforcement with retrofit targets and ensuring a fair, phased transition for households and compliant merchants.

Methods: Unknown

Politician(s) lobbied: Rónán Mullen (Senator), Seanad; Frank O'Flynn (Councillor), Cork County Council; Maria Byrne (Senator), Seanad; Aoife Masterson (Councillor), Offaly County Council; Ryan O'Meara (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; William Aird (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Peter 'Chap' Cleere (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Malcolm Noonan (Senator), Seanad; Noel McCarthy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Collins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Healy-Rae (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Cathal Byrne (Senator), Seanad; Pauline Tully (Senator), Seanad; Helen McEntee (Minister), Department of Education; John McGuinness (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Imelda Goldsboro (Senator), Seanad

Intent: To encourage Oireachtas members to raise these issues with Government, build cross-party awareness and secure support for policy measures contained in SFMI's pre-Budget 2026 submission in order to promote fairness and compliance within the marketplace.

Methods: Lobby day

Politician(s) lobbied: Unknown

Intent: To secure political awareness and support for SFMI’s Budget 2026 proposals, including stronger enforcement against illegal fuel imports, mandatory EPA registration of all fuel retailers, targeted supports for biomass innovation, reform of the Fuel Allowance Scheme and the introduction of a regulatory sunset clause

Methods: Unknown

Politician(s) lobbied: Unknown

Intent: Unknown

Methods: Unknown

Politician(s) lobbied: Unknown

Intent: Unknown

Methods: Unknown

Politician(s) lobbied: Michael McGrath (Minister), Department of Finance

Intent: To inform the Minister of the problems facing the industry and to layout possible policy changes to insulate legitimate retailers and to protect the environment from illegal smoky fuel

Methods: Meeting