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
Details by Method
Submission
The correspondence from SFMI concerned proposals to reform the Fuel Allowance system through a compliance-linked model ensuring supports are redeemable only with registered and tax-compliant fuel suppliers. The proposal aimed to address fuel poverty, protect vulnerable households, prevent public funds flowing to illicit operators and support legitimate rural businesses.
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
Details by Method
Email
An email submission issued to Darragh O'Brien on behalf of Solid Fuel Merchants Ireland (SFMI), outlining a proposal for the establishment of a Solid Fuel Decarbonisation Fund for Retailers. The submission focused on supporting the transition towards cleaner solid fuels through targeted investment in low-smoke and sustainable biomass products, compliant infrastructure, and practical supports for rural households and retailers as part of Ireland’s wider climate and air quality objectives.
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
Details by Method
Meeting
Meeting in Leinster House to discuss a range of issues affecting compliant solid fuel retailers.
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
Details by Method
Submission
An email submission issued to govermnent on behalf of Solid Fuel Merchants Ireland (SFMI), providing a detailed policy proposal for the establishment of a Joint Fuel Enforcement Taskforce. The submission outlined industry concerns regarding illegal and non-compliant fuel activity, enforcement gaps, impacts on compliant retailers and Exchequer revenues, and proposed a coordinated multi-agency enforcement approach involving Revenue Commissioners, Local Authorities and An Garda Síochána.
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
Details by Method
Method not specified
Air Pollution Amendment Bill
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
Details by Method
Lobby day
SFMI hosted a Budget 2026 briefing session for Oireachtas members in Buswell’s Hotel, Dublin. The purpose of the engagement was to inform TDs and Senators about SFMI’s pre-Budget priorities, highlight the ongoing challenges of illegal solid fuel imports and weak enforcement, and to propose constructive measures that protect compliant businesses, rural households and public health.
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
Details by Method
Method not specified
Pre-Budget 2026 Submission
Politician(s) lobbied: Unknown
Intent: Unknown
Methods: Unknown
Details by Method
Method not specified
Unknown
Politician(s) lobbied: Unknown
Intent: Unknown
Methods: Unknown
Details by Method
Method not specified
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
Details by Method
Meeting
Items discussed included: - An Introduction to SFMI- Difficulties facing our industry- Illegal activities and cross border trade - tackling smuggling- Carbon Tax and VAT fraud.- Enforcement - asked for more funding for local authorities for enforcement.- Establishment of a Licensing Regime for Fuel Merchants- Just Transition fundingLow carbon alternativesBriefly spoke about the fuel allowance and possibility of changing it to vouchers
