Government parties will have to "work together" to agree rules banning the sale of turf, according to a Green Party Minister of State.
Pippa Hackett would not be drawn on whether the controversial plan would be a red line issue for the Government but said: "It is a Programme for Government commitment to deliver on air quality, and it is an absolutely necessity that we do that."
Speaking on RTÉ's Saturday with Katie Hannon, Ms Hackett said the regulations are still in a draft phase, and there is "a lot of work to be done."
But she said they have to be seen as a public health measure as 1,300 people are dying every year because of inhalation of fire fuel.
The regulations are part of moves to introduce a nationwide ban on smoky coal in September of this year.
TDs will debate a Sinn Féin motion that would ensure the ban does not go ahead when the Dáil returns on Tuesday.
Sinn Féin TD Louise O'Reilly said the Green Party is overlooking the fact that 3,000 people die a year as a result of fuel poverty:
"There has never been a worse time to do this, in the middle of a cost of living crisis," she said.
It is expected that the Department of Environment will submit detailed proposals about the regulations after Easter and the parties in Government will then hold further talks on the measure.
Green Party leader and Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan said that the Government had to work together to get the regulations right.
He said the Government has engaged in a detailed public consultation and that people's concerns must be listened to so that cleaner air can be developed, particularly in rural Ireland.
Mr Ryan said that people who have access to a bog will be able to continue what they have been doing in recent years.
He said that this was not just about turf, it was also about getting rid of smoky coal.
