Environment Minister Richard Bruton is considering laws to tackle engine idling.

Legal threats from coal firms have stopped the Government from introducing a nationwide ban on smoky coal which environmental activists and opposition parties are demanding.

Fears have been expressed that one of the country’s best known angling rivers could soon be devoid of salmon and cost the economy millions of euro in lost revenue.

Planning for solar farms is being “kept under review”, the minister with responsibility for planning Simon Coveney has said, amid growing concerns about the lack of national guidelines.