A Dublin Labour Party councillor has called for a review of the 19th century legislation which outlaws the use of fireworks. Mr Eric Byrne's call came as the Garda displayed a haul of illegally imported fireworks, estimated to be worth £1 million, which were seized at a warehouse on the outskirts of Dublin on Saturday.
Two women arrested at the warehouse were questioned and released. A spokesman for the Garda said a file was being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
As part of a campaign against the use of fireworks, gardai have been stopping and searching people. A spokesman for the Garda yesterday said this was to stop the illegal possession of fireworks.
Yesterday Mr Byrne called for the review of the 1875 Explosives Act which proscribes the possession of "every substance used or manufactured with a view to produce a practical effect by explosion or a pyrotechnic effect".
He said the blanket ban meant most of the fireworks entering the State came from Asia and subject to few, if any, quality checks. There was an argument for legalising fireworks while at the same time introducing quality checks to ensure public safety.
He said: "It has been clear for some years that the ban on fireworks simply isn't working. Each year in the run-up to Hallowe'en, despite the best efforts of the Garda to intercept them, thousands are smuggled into the country and sold on street corners. Most of these fireworks are of dubious quality leaving children, in particular, exposed to the risk of serious injury.
"Legalising the sale of fireworks would enable stringent quality controls to be put in place while also reducing the time and money spent on trying to intercept illicit imports of fireworks."