Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 4

Adjournment Debate. - Sale of Fireworks.

Mr. Browne

(Carlow-Kilkenny): I am grateful for the opportunity to raise this problem. There seems to be a particular problem in Carlow this year where bangers are being put through letterboxes and so on. I am sure that is great fun for the young people involved in it but it is not very funny for people who are advancing in years and are frightened by it.

When I inquired what could be done about it I discovered we rely on section 80 of the Explosives Act, 1875, to deal with the throwing of fireworks etc. I do not want to be a spoilsport as boys will boys and girls will be girls but it is important to be very careful when using fireworks and I do not want that part of the Act to be used very severely against young people, unless they deliberately throw fireworks into dangerous places.

My worry is that we must rely on section 4 of the Explosives Act, 1883, to deal with those who have explosives in their possession or control. It is over 100 years since the last legislation on fireworks was enacted and it is time to update that legislation. Parents should be able to advise their children about the use of these items but, unfortunately, in some cases they do not. Apart from the annoyance they cause to elderly people, sometimes children also suffer. One child recently lost some fingers as a result of playing with fireworks and another damaged their eye.

These fireworks are imported from China. I am sure that in 1875 and 1883 China had more to think about than the making of fireworks. In my view, the standard of these fireworks is not what we would expect.

I am raising this matter in the hope that new legislation will be enacted to deal with the sale of explosives and bangers. They are not generally sold in shops but in open markets. The Garda do a great job confiscating them — they recently confiscated £8,000 worth of fireworks in Athy — which saves people from injuring themselves while they are trying to have fun.

Miss M. Wallace

I thank Deputy Browne for raising this timely matter. I know his concern in genuine. Under the Explosives Act, 1875, which is operative in this instance, a licence is required to be issued by my Department for the importation of fireworks. It is a longstanding policy that such licences are only issued for organised fireworks displays conducted by competent and professional operators. Under such controlled conditions, injury and mishap are a rarity and rarely detracts from the enjoyment of the spectacle.

Despite this restriction, it is clear that supplies of fireworks continue to be imported illegally into the State, especially leading up to and around the Hallowe'en period and that they are finding their way into the hands of young people. Much of what comes in is of dubious quality. Unscrupulous individuals seek to flood the market with as many of these fireworks as they can sell in order to make a quick profit with no regard for the safety of the young people using them.

At this time every year a concerted effort is made by the Garda Síochána to control the illegal possession, sale and use of fireworks. Special measures are also taken in addition to the normal routine policing measures, which include attention to known trouble areas to deal with the problem, liaison with other services and arrangements for media publicity aimed at parents and teachers regarding the dangers of handling fireworks. In addition, all divisions throughout the country have been advised to pay particular attention to this problem and the special Garda unit which operates in Dublin at this time each year has been increased. Also, community police officers will visit schools to educate teachers and pupils on the dangers of fireworks.

A close watch is kept by the Garda Síochána on this illegal trade and gardaí do not hesitate to act where necessary. As a result, the gardaí have made significant seizures in recent years. Through their vigilance amounts varying from £100,000 to £155,000 worth of fireworks were seized each year between 1993 and 1996 and subsequently destroyed. This year the Garda are increasing their efforts in this clampdown on the pre-Hallowe'en trade. I take this opportunity to congratulate the Commissioner and the members of the force on their recently successful operations which included the confiscation of illegally imported fireworks in north Dublin with an estimated street value in excess of £500,000.

I am satisfied that the current restrictive licensing policy allied to the seizures by the Garda is the best way of protecting the public from the inherent dangers of fireworks, while ensuring that it is not deprived of the enjoyment of the spectacle of fireworks operated by knowledgeable persons in a controlled environment.

However, it is incumbent on us all to take a share of the responsibility with regard to this problem. Vigilance cannot be left to the Garda alone and parents in particular, and adults in general, should ensure that their children are aware of the dangers imposed by fireworks.