asked the Minister for Justice the action he has taken or intends to take against persons who illegally imported large supplies of fireworks in containers and vans, many batches of which were found to be unstable by the Garda, and more sold, contrary to the Explosives Act, by street traders prior to Halloween; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Fireworks Sales.
7.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that they have no evidence to substantiate recent allegations of a speculative kind that large supplies of fireworks, some of which were found to be unstable, were imported in containers and vans into this country prior to Halloween.
If the Deputy, or any other person, has any evidence to support such allegations, he should bring it to the attention of the Garda authorities, who will no doubt take appropriate action.
The Garda authorities have also assured me that in the weeks preceding Halloween, to the extent that was possible having regard to the many other demands on their services, they paid special attention to particular areas where fireworks were being sold. This resulted in 12 seizures of quantities of illegal fireworks. Twenty-two persons were arrested and prosecutions are being taken in a number of these cases.
The evidence I have is contained in an article written in the Garda News which suggests that two van loads of fireworks were imported from Britain and that an articulated truck full of fireworks, which are, of course, outlawed under the Explosives Act came from Northern Ireland Does the Minister consider that in the light of his reply he should inquire from those investigating this matter if the evidence in the Garda News should have been made available to the Garda authorities before general publication?
It is true there were seizures and that prosecutions are pending. The indications are that the value of the seizures would be approximately £3,000.
Is the Minister saying that the prosecution cases are being taken against traders who are distributing these items to street sellers or against people importing them from Great Britain and Northern Ireland? I am concerned that explosive material such as fireworks can be imported by sea or land, in containers or vans, from Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
They are also illegal there.
Obviously we must be concerned that explosives in other connections can be brought in by the same method.
I am sorry Deputy, I do not have details on the individual cases. I have a note that one seizure had a value of £3,000. I am informed that the information to which the Deputy refers is based on speculation that an articulated container full of fireworks was smuggled into the country from Northern Ireland and that another van made trips to Liverpool. The Garda authorities have indicated that the allegations have not been substantiated by Garda operations.
Did the Minister say they were smuggled into this country from Northern Ireland?
I have to call Question No. 8 if it is to be dealt with at all.