Call for Minister to ban certain types of fireworks

The Government should immediately ban the import of some types of fireworks which cause disturbances in town and cities in the…

The Government should immediately ban the import of some types of fireworks which cause disturbances in town and cities in the run-up to Hallowe'en, according to Labour TD Mr Tommy Broughan.

He said despite calls last years, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr McDowell, had failed to take action to curb the use of fireworks which "make life so unpleasant for residents".

"The explosion of fireworks now dominates night-time hours for almost three months each year, and each weekend in September, October and much of November sees continuous and monotonous loud bangs disturbing the peace of many neighbourhoods.

"Senior citizens, citizens with disability or recovering from illness and families with young children are especially vulnerable during this period because of the repeated and sudden loud noise," according the Dublin North East TD.

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He said firework brands such as Earthquake, Air Burst and Colour Bomb, which are imported from factories in the English midlands, were designed to produce "a shocking loud and bomb-like noise".

Many of the fireworks were illegally imported from factories in Northern Ireland, allegedly especially from a number of factories around Newry, said Mr Broughan.

He said local authorities and community groups and no one else should be allowed to organise fireworks displays for Hallowe'en.

The displays, he said, should be along the lines of the example set by Dublin City Council in Darndale/Belcamp on Dublin's north side.

Mark Hennessy

Mark Hennessy

Mark Hennessy is Ireland and Britain Editor with The Irish Times