PRESS RELEASE

THERE WILL BE COAL FOR CHRISTMAS

Cork North Central Deputy Billy Kelleher today sought to reassure coal users that there will be coal for Christmas.

"My comments come on foot of phone calls to my constituency office where an alarming number of people particularly elderly pensioners are under the impression that coal is to be banned in December. These would be householders whose only source of heat is the fire in their sitting room."

"I want to reassure them that coal is not to be banned in December. This fear has arisen out of a proposal regarding a possible ban on the sale of Bituminous Coal and Petroleum Coke. At this stage this is just a proposal and forms part of a public consultation process."

"No decisions have been made regarding the banning of coal to date. While this debate continues I wish to clarify for users that they will have coal for Christmas and beyond. I hope that by making this statement that I will ease the worry that many pensioners have been expressing to my office."