It is odd that I have chosen a night following Hallowe'en to raise the sale and use of fireworks but I do so to give the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform an opportunity to engage in a comprehensive and informed debate regarding how fireworks ought to be regulated. A number of commentators said Hallowe'en in Dublin this year was similar to Baghdad or Beirut. However, better quality fireworks were used this year. More than 2,500 people attended a well organised fireworks display in Ballymun in my constituency. It was organised by the Garda, the Civil Defence, the Order of Malta, the Army and local community organisations. All the local community organisations were represented and there were very few satellite bonfires or fireworks displays. A number of other displays throughout the city were also well organised. In that context, it is opportune to consider the current situation. Coincidentally, a woman from the Raheny-Howth area telephoned me today, expressing concern about the dangers posed to aircraft landing at Dublin Airport by the huge number of fireworks displays at Hallowe'en. Perhaps that has no serious implication for landing aircraft, but it goes to show that people are still concerned about the implications of bonfires and fireworks.
Having researched the Official Report, I found that this issue had been raised by a number of Deputies from both sides of the House, when Ministers from different parties were in charge. Curiously, the replies on each occasion were virtually identical. I will be interested to hear whether the Minister of State is allowed to deviate tonight from the standard reply to such debates. Since early September, fireworks have been blasting in flat complexes and housing estates throughout Dublin, the area with which I am most familiar and concerned. It can be a terrifying experience for older people and, since the use of fireworks began early this past autumn, from the end of August in some cases, many of them have not left their houses after 4 p.m. or 5 p.m. That is an issue which needs to be confronted.
I have received a large number of letters and telephone calls asking for action to be taken so that people do not feel threatened in their homes. In some flat complexes, elderly people have had to seal up their letter boxes to prevent fireworks from being dropped through them. They live in fear and there is a huge level of discomfort. Pets and other animals have been frightened. I have read the advice given by a British horse society to horse owners on how to deal with the consequences of the use of fireworks in their vicinity. In one instance in Dublin, fireworks were thrown into a shop in Cabra, causing considerable damage.
Fireworks which come into the hands of young children, mainly, pose great risks to them. I compliment the Garda on the excellent work done in this regard, as illustrated on a television programme last night. However, despite working covertly and otherwise, the number of seizures is still not substantial. We rely on section 80 of the Explosives Act of 1875 to deal with the throwing of fireworks and so on. While I have no intention of being a spoilsport, one has to be very careful when using fireworks. While I do not wish to have the Act used severely against young people unless they deliberately throw fireworks dangerously, I am anxious that there should be some reform. I am concerned that we must still rely on section 4 of the Explosives Act 1883 to deal with those who have explosives in their possession or control. It is definitely time to update legislation which is over 100 years old.
Clearly, parents have a responsibility, which most of them take very seriously. An extremely disconcerting issue with regard to the type of fireworks found on our streets is their country of origin. Largely, they come from China and they are dangerously volatile. In America, some states have introduced legislation to regulate the use of fireworks and the number of accidents has fallen very significantly as a result. I ask the Minister of State to bear in mind the concerns I have expressed and to convey my views to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
