Hi Sean and Boombust,
You are conflating two distinct issues here.
Under recently introduced legislation Turf cutting in SAC (Special Areas of Conservation) areas is banned as pointed out in earlier posts.
Completely separate legislation introduced in 1990 by Mary Harney outlaws the "marketing, distribution and sale" of bituminous coal in designated towns and cities. It has never been illegal to actually burn bituminous (smoky) coal in these areas.
Under the 1990 leglistation it remained legal to "market, distribute and sell" turf, briquettes and timber blocks in the designated cities and towns.
aj