David Norris (Independent)

I understand that and I listened with great respect to the Senator. I recall when the ban was introduced a firework shop in Donnybrook exploded and people were killed. I also recall an incident similar to the one Senator Henry mentioned which involved not children but a Trinity student. During some prank a rocket went down her boot and blew her leg off. She was an adult and this section would not have covered her.

I have a great deal of sympathy for Senator Mansergh's point. Firework exhibitions are immensely delightful. As children we absolutely looked forward to them. If anyone could get hold of contraband fireworks we were thrilled to pieces. The Minister will have to divert large sections of the Garda down Henry Street where the sellers are pretty fly. They offer the fireworks from under voluminous garments but the minute a garda comes into sight off they go like a flight of seagulls.

A balance must be achieved. I had intended fully to support Senator Mansergh but one must listen to Senator Henry's report and if there are in fact such serious injuries every year we must take that seriously. They are allowed, however, in other countries and we have not seen the scale of injury that I recall hearing about in the past. It is up to the Minister to strike a balance.