Written answers
Wednesday, 22 January 2025
Department of Justice and Equality
Legislative Measures
Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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1014. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration has been given to introducing legislation to restrict and control the supply of materials that can be used for bonfires, for example ensuring that companies secure materials that can be used for bonfires, tackling the storage of materials used for bonfires and securing equipment that can be used for the transport of bonfire materials. [1440/25]
Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Justice has responsibility for the regulation governing the importation and use of explosive materials, which includes the importation, sale, storage and use of fireworks and I am very aware that every year in the run up to Halloween, there are concerns among communities about the illegal use of fireworks.
The legislation governing the importation, storage, transport and use of fireworks is very prescriptive and is set out in law and further information on this is available on
I am also aware that communities have concerns about the stockpiling of materials for bonfires and while the rules governing the storage and transport of such materials is not under the remit of my department, I am advised by An Garda Síochána that as part of their work under Operation Tombola, Gardaí work on identifying the scene(s) of unsupervised and unplanned bonfire locations and liaise with local authorities to have bonfire material removed in advance of Halloween.
Other actions undertaken by An Garda Síochána annually as part of Operation Tombola include:
- increased patrolling (overt and covert) of areas of interest, including but not limited to usual locations where young people congregate as well as areas where bonfire materials are likely to be stockpiled.
- High visibility patrols of public transport on Dublin Bus, LUAS and Dart services in the lead up to and on Halloween to prevent and detect incidents of anti-social behaviour.
- Engagement with schools and youth services throughout the region with talks designed and focused on engaging with those who may participate in sale/supply and use of fireworks.
- Proactive monitoring of open-source media to identify the location where individuals are operating the sale and supply of fireworks.
- Allocation of designated Garda personnel to monitor overt CCTV to ensure anti-social issues are effectively dealt with in a timely manner.
- Proactive engagement by liquor licensing inspectors with managers and business owners, reminding the business community of their responsibilities under Liquor Licensing Legislation.
- Policing the public consumption of alcohol and underage minors drinking.
Legislation in relation to the storage and transport by companies of legitimate materials that could potentially be used to create bonfires would not be a matter for the Department of Justice and the Deputy may wish to direct questions in relation to how such companies are required to store and transport such materials to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
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