The government last night survived a Dáil vote to scrap an upcoming ban on the commercial sale of turf.
Sinn Fein's motion also called for the upcoming carbon tax increase to be abandoned and for the temporary removal of excise duty on home heating oil.
Government defeats Sinn Fein motion on turf ban and fuel costs pic.twitter.com/9s6g21IeR2
— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) April 27, 2022
Rural TDs in Fianna Fail and Fine Gael voted with the government, despite voicing their anger at the turf ban in recent days.
Independent TD, Michael Fitzmaurice, says he's has slammed the move.
"Over the last fortnight in most radio stations around the country, we've heard these same TDs telling the public in their constituency that it was scandalous what was being proposed, that they wouldn't stand for it, that it could split a government.
"But the funny thing is - when they went to the Dáil, their finger seems to go a different way".
Meanwhile before the meeting the Taoiseach told his party no proposals will affect traditional turf practices or the sharing of turf in rural Ireland.
