Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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113. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if regulatory checks are carried out of licensed sellers and importers of fireworks to ensure that fireworks are sold only in line with legislative provisions; the number of such checks in each of the past five years; the number of breaches found; the number of those that hold licences for the sale of fireworks here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24243/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware the importation of fireworks are controlled under law in the interests of safety and security. My Department issues licenses under the Explosives Act for the importation of all fireworks. However,  the more hazardous Category F2, F3 and F4 fireworks are restricted and these fireworks can only be used in organised displays conducted by professional and competent operators. Category F1 fireworks which present a very low hazard, negligible noise level and are intended for use in confined areas including domestic buildings can be sold to the general public. These very low hazard fireworks includes party poppers, sparklers and fun snaps.

Before issuing any licence for the importation of fireworks my Department conducts checks to ensure that the fireworks are in full compliance with EU and Irish law. This ensures that only CE marked and safe fireworks are made available on the market in Ireland. Under this legislation the Minister appoints authorised officers who carry out inspections to ensure compliance with this legislation.

In the last 5 years my Department has issued 2,096 licences for the importation of Category F2, F3 and F4 fireworks for use in organised public displays and 23 licences for the importation of Category F1 fireworks for sale to the general public.

In advance of Halloween each year my Department writes to all known importers, distributors and sellers of Category F1 fireworks to remind them of their obligations with regard to the importation and storage of Category F1 fireworks. In addition my Department writes to representative associations such as Retail Ireland, Retail Excellence Ireland, RGdata and ISME to ask them to inform all their members about the obligations involved should they wish to either import, store or sell Category F1 fireworks.

In the last 5 years my Department has conducted a total of 84 inspections in distribution and retail premises regarding the sale to the general public of Category F1 fireworks and has noted 22 breaches of the legislation.

Some of these were in respect of the unlicensed importation of non CE marked Category F1 fireworks and some cases were where the retailer had not registered their premises with the Local Authority as is required under the Explosives Act.

Finally, under the Explosives Act any person who wishes to store or sell Category F1 fireworks must register their premises with their respective Local Authority on an annual basis and so the total number of such premises registered by each Local Authority would be available from that Local Authority.