Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I support Members who asked for a debate on fire safety. I suggest we invite the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to the House to ask how many prosecutions for breaches of fire safety have occurred since the Stardust tragedy. I refer in particular to nightclubs, pubs and hotels in regard to which I suspect there have been very few. Will the Leader ask the Minister to indicate how many inspections of these premises have taken place while fully occupied? I have never seen a fire officer in the middle of 2,000 people in a nightclub to see how they would react in the case of a fire. From being involved in a fire in a school, I am aware basic mistakes can be made in this situation. We all think we would react correctly but this may not be the case.

A fire occurred in Enniscorthy recently and when the fire services went to the scene they discovered the water pressure at the fire hydrants was not sufficient to treat the fire. We should have a debate on fire safety to discover if we have learned anything from the Stardust tragedy and if premises frequented by thousands of people are being monitored. I hope we never have a repeat of such a tragedy.