Random firework detonations are a fact of life for Dublin residents looking to enjoy a quiet evening in recent weeks, and with Halloween just around the corner, Dubliners would be well-advised to invest in a good set of noise-cancelling headphones for them and their pets.
Unsanctioned firework displays have caused annoyance and distress among residents in various West Dublin neighbourhoods, and now Dublin West TD and Junior Minister Jack Chambers has backed a campaign aimed at discouraging the use of fireworks, notably using social media encouraging people not to use them.
Public awareness campaigns were launched in 2020, 2021 and 2022 to seemingly limited effect, but this year’s campaign looks to go straight to the source.
Speaking to Northside People, Chambers said “the messaging around the campaign will have a specific focus on social media platforms with a view to extending and amplifying its reach across a younger audience including Snapchat, YouTube and TikTok.”
“The campaign was launched earlier this year than previous years in recognition of the fact firework use is beginning earlier in the year,” he noted.
While emphasising the legal consequences of the issue, the Fianna Fáil TD said that a data and evidence-led approach “is the best way of ensuring a communications campaign like this one is as effective as it can be.”
“I believe education, awareness and enforcement can all play a role in addressing this issue. It is not acceptable that the public should feel unsafe or insecure in their communities and I fully understand how the use of fireworks can be distressing, particularly for the more vulnerable people in society.”
Chambers says he has received complaints from constituents in Dublin West about the issue, and said he wanted to emphasise the dangers of fireworks.
“The penalties for importing, selling or using unlicensed fireworks are significant. They include a fine of up to €10,000 and up to five years imprisonment. I believe these penalties demonstrate the seriousness attached to breaches of the legislation governing the importation and use of fireworks,” he said, but the next step was raising awareness about their use.
“In my view, this combined approach of education and enforcement is the best approach to tackling this issue.”
Discussing how the issue is affecting his constituents in Dublin West, Chambers said that in recent years he has received reports from local people about fireworks and said he has engaged with gardaí on the matter.
“I know fireworks can cause serious injury to people and can also be very distressing for animals including household pets.”
He said he was “pleased” that the ISPCA and Guide Dogs for the Blind are involved in the campaign, noting that the ISPCA have reminded people to consider the fear and distress fireworks can have on animals.
In 2020 a Dáil motion brought forward by Sinn Féin that would allow for the arrest of people who possess unlicensed fireworks was voted down. When asked how he would vote if the issue was raised in the Dáil, Chambers said that the current laws already demonstrate the “seriousness attached to breaches of legislation” surrounding fireworks.
“I know already this year there have been 6 arrests for incidents involving fireworks and over the past few years thousands of Euro worth of fireworks have been seized by Gardaí, so it is clear there is a law enforcement component to this.”
In 2020, authorities launched Operation Tombola which was aimed at stopping the distribution of fireworks, and the Operation will be conducted again this year.
One notable raid in October 2020 saw over 2,400 fireworks seized in an address in Dublin 8, and a 2021 raid in Balbriggan saw fireworks worth more than €10,000 seized.
Chambers said that community engagement and raising awareness within communities was a major tenet of the campaign.
“As part of the Garda operation this year, there will be engagement with schools talks and youth services throughout the country designed at and focused on engaging with young people who may participate in the sale, supply and use of fireworks.”
He noted that the youth organisation Foróige has agreed to conduct research that explores the messaging that the 11-17 year old age group would find most impactful as part of the campaign.
“People in communities should feel empowered to raise concerns they have this Halloween and I will certainly be doing all I can in my role as public representative to support and help the community, including those most vulnerable in our communities.”
Chambers pointed to the work done by fellow Minister James Browne on the matter, recently launching the awareness campaign.
“Parents, particularly those with young children, should be aware of the dangers associated with the misuse of fireworks,” Browne said, encouraging parents to take their children to along to legal and professional fireworks displays organised in their local area instead.
Tim O’Mahony, Chief Executive from the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind said “every year our team is faced with the heartbreak of seeing Guide Dogs and Assistance Dogs traumatised from the impact of fireworks.”
“Whilst our dogs are highly trained to cope with many situations, if a dog has an experience that goes beyond a normal level of stress, such as a firework exploding close to them, this can overly sensitise the dog, similar to PTSD in humans.”
“Our trainers will work very closely with the dog and owner to reverse the effects, and whilst most dogs recover, some overreact to unexpected noise, which manifests as a fear reaction.”
“In that situation, the dog must be retired. That has devastating consequences for their owner whose independence and mobility, which they previously enjoyed, is hugely curtailed or completely taken away – they face a lengthy wait to be matched with another suitable dog.”