Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 3 Nov 1994

Vol. 446 No. 7

Adjournment Debate. - Controls on Fireworks.

Mr. McGrath

Thank you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, for allowing me to raise this important matter on the adjournment. It is no joy for me to relate the horrific accident to an 11 year old boy in Mullingar who, as a result of an accident with fireworks, is now hospitalised and in danger of losing the sight of one of his eyes. Another boy in Athlone suffered severe hand injuries from an exploding firework about a week ago. Those are just two of the incidents in Westmeath alone, but I understand there were many more accidents around the country leading to serious injury and permanent scarring and maiming.

I have been in touch with the Eye and Ear Hospital and they tell me that over the weekend they had eight admissions with eye injuries. Five people have now gone home but will need treatment for some time. Three people suffered major injuries. One has had surgery already and will possibly recover. Another was injured by a blunt object hitting his eye. It will take several months of treatment to get his eyesight back, if at all. The third has also had major surgery and is in a very serious condition. Those are just some of the eye injuries we know about. There are several other injuries to hands, fingers, legs, etc. which we have not recorded yet.

Coupled with those incidents are the countless people, particularly the elderly, who live in fear of Hallowe'en and the possible terror that will surround them. Bangers being thrown at their windows and doors and put in their letterboxes serve to make many people wish Hollowe'en would revert to being a feast celebrated with apples, nuts and barm brack.

Despite fireworks being illegal in Ireland approximately £116,000 worth were seized by the Garda last year. Several prosecutions were taken for possession and also for trading in fireworks but to no avail. This year we saw an even greater amount of fireworks available than ever before. In Mullingar the dogs in the street were aware of the family selling fireworks. This well known family, who have had many brushes with the law on several other fronts, were almost openly selling fireworks from their home. They had a huge volume of them and this is evidenced by a seizure made in that area. Fireworks to the value of over £700 were confiscated — 18 boxes of black cat bangers, 283 rockets, 250 plane drop rockets, one box of assorted rockets and four cartwheels. Those are just some of the items confiscated in raids.

Because fireworks are illegal they are handled and stored covertly with little regard for conditions of storage, best method of handling and conditions of use. Fireworks contain a certain amount of explosives and to handle explosives properly one needs to be expert and there are many conditions as to how fireworks are used and stored. None of those seem to apply when fireworks are held illegally. The laws in this area are antiquated, relying on legislation from 1875 and 1883 with fines of up to £5 for throwing fireworks.

It is the Minister's responsibility to take control in this area and take the necessary action to prevent these instruments of injury and death, sometimes thought of as toys, getting into the hands of children and causing some of the problems I related earlier.

Minister of State at the Department of Justice (Mr. O'Dea)

The Deputy has raised a matter which should be of concern to us all, particularly as it involves in many cases hurt and injury to innocent young people. I am well aware of the case referred to where a young boy suffered severe injuries to his eye on what should have been a night of fun and games. The Deputy is quite right when he said that there is a need for tight controls on the availability of fireworks and I am glad to have this opportunity to set out the position in relation to the importation of fireworks.

Under the Explosives Act, 1875 a licence is required to be issued by the Department of Justice for the importation of fireworks. It is long-standing policy that such licences are only issued for organised firework displays conducted by competent professional operators. Under such controlled conditions, injury and mishap is a rarity and rarely detracts from the enjoyment of the spectacle.

Unfortunately not all firework displays are so controlled and many fireworks are entering the country illegally and are finding their way into the hands of young people in particular. Much of what comes into the country in that way is of dubious quality and it is a particular problem at this time of the year. 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 whatever for the safety of young people who use those fireworks.

The Minister for Justice is satisfied that seizure by the gardaí is the best way of protecting the public from the inherent dangers of fireworks. It is important to point out that the gardaí, as enforcers of the law, have taken strong measures to ensure that as many illegally imported fireworks as possible are confiscated. They have done this by setting up of a special Garda unit in Dublin to combat the sale and distribution of illegally imported fireworks; the deployment of personnel to known trouble areas to deal specifically with the problem; liaison with local authorities and the fire brigade service.

They also issued warnings on the dangers connected to fires and fireworks on local radio stations leading up to Hallowe'en. A close eye is kept by the Garda Síochána on this illegal trade and they do not hesitate to act when necessary. Moreover, the Deputy might like to note that the gardaí have had some very good successes in recent years, when it comes to confiscation of illegally imported fireworks. As Deputy McGrath rightly pointed out, in 1993 a total of £116,000 worth were seized and subsequently destroyed and this year, in an even greater push against those traders, the gardaí in Dublin rounded up a total of £120,000 worth of illegally imported fireworks. In one area of Dublin, namely, Henry Street, £65,000 worth of illegal fireworks were seized during the month of October alone.

It is incumbent on us all to take a share of the responsibility in relation to this problem. Vigilance cannot be left to the gardaí alone and parents in particular, and adults in general, should ensure that their children are aware of the dangers posed by fireworks and that if they know their children are using or are in the company of those who are using fireworks of any description that they are supervised.

Far too often the type of dreadful accident which occurred in Mullingar and which was referred to by Deputy McGrath comes about through children being left to their own devices with fireworks and at bonfires with no adults in supervision. That particular incident was one of many which happen too regularly and for the boy in question it will have a devastating effect on him for the rest of his life. We can all help to make it a safer, happier, time for our children and young people.

For their part, I have no doubt that the gardaí will take all necessary steps to deal with this illegal trade to ensure, as far as is humanly possible, that as many illegally imported fireworks as possible are confiscated and destroyed and do not find their way onto the streets. It is only through vigilance by all adults that the tragedies we read about in our newspapers at this time of year are kept to an absolute minimum and that everyone, young and old, has the opportunity to enjoy what should be a happy, joyful occasion.