Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 466: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if there is a list of commodities which alone or in combination with other commodities could be used for bomb making or other terrorist purposes; and his views on the merit of a proposal to establish by regulation a notifiable list where sellers of commodities on such a list would be obliged to notify the authorities of purchases above a certain quantity. [2908/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Under Section 104 of the Explosives Act, 1875 I may by order deem any substance, which appears to be specially dangerous by reason either of its explosive properties or of any process in its manufacture being liable to explosion, to be an explosive within the meaning of the Act. All of the restrictions relating to importation, storage, manufacture sale, etc., which apply to explosives apply to such substances. Three orders have been made under the Act which deem the following substances to be explosives:

Ammonium Nitrate,

Sodium Chlorate,

Nitrobenzene,

Potassium Nitrate and

Sodium Nitrate.

All of these substances have in the past been used as raw materials in the manufacture of explosive devices and I am satisfied that it is appropriate that they be deemed explosives for the purposes of the 1875 Act.

It is open to me, at any time, to extend or restrict the list of deemed explosives and the range of substances, which could potentially be used for bomb making, is kept under continuous review in the interests of public safety and security.