THE GOVERNMENT HAS asked retailers to stop selling disposable barbecues, as they risk starting fires during the warm, dry weather.

The Social Democrats have said the move doesn’t go far enough, and called for a complete ban on the convenience products during Status Orange wildfire warnings.

A fire broke out in Killarney National Park on Tuesday, while another burned part of the Wicklow Mountains on Wednesday.

Christopher O’Sullivan, the minister for nature and biodiversity, said both blazes appeared to have been started by “reckless and irresponsible human activity”.

He welcomed the Department of Tourism asking shops to suspend the sale of disposable barbecues for the duration of the Status Orange wildfire warning, but stopped short of calling for a permanent ban.

Despite the government’s request, instant barbecue sets were still on sale today in the Lidl supermarket in Newbridge, County Kildare.

Jennifer Whitmore, the Social Democrats’ environment spokesperson, said extreme weather is going to become more common due to climate change, and laws should adapt.

“With the prolonged spell of extremely hot weather set to continue into next week, we cannot afford to put our natural environment, habitats or wildlife at further risk,” she said.

“It’s not enough for the Department of Enterprise to simply write to retailers to request a suspension of the sale of disposable barbecues while warnings are in effect.”

She said that, as the request is not legally binding, it’s just a “toothless, ineffective measure” that some retailers could ignore.

“A complete ban on the sale of disposable barbecues, underpinned by multi-agency enforcement, should be put in place during periods of active hot weather alerts,” she said.

“There is far too much at stake – our natural environment, our wildlife and the safety of our firefighters and local communities – to rely on a system of self-regulation.”