Tánaiste criticised for not tackling illegal fireworks
The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell is being criticised for failing to deal with the problem of illegal fireworks in Ireland.
The criticism comes as a young Dublin student recovers from hand and neck injuries after a banger exploded.
Labour TD Joe Costello said today that measures implemented by Minister McDowell, such as tougher penalties, fall short of tackling the issue on the ground.
He says the law here should be synchronised with that in the North.
Mr Costello said: “The situation here is as bad as it ever was. We’re facing into another Halloween with little or no response from the minister and we will have the same situation where young people have illegal fireworks and elderly people are extremely fearful because of sudden firework bangs and also fireworks being put through people’s letterboxes.
“It’s a totally unacceptable situation and the minister is largely to blame for it.”
