A Fine Gael Councillor has called for the First Minister of Northern Ireland to ban fireworks in order to tackle smuggling into the Republic. 

While it is prohibited to sell fireworks south of the border, the practice is legal in the North. 

With Halloween fast approaching, Cabra-Glasnevin Councillor Gayle Ralph said authorities on both sides of the border need to cooperate on how the Republic’s laws can be better enforced. 

“Over the last few weeks, it was brought to my attention that fireworks were being used a little bit even differently this year,” she told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“I'd seen videos of young people like effectively using them as a game, firing them at each other, at passers-by in cars and in very public open spaces. 

“I saw it myself, some of the behaviour firsthand the other night and it just brought to me how dangerous this is becoming.”

With no fireworks for sale legally in the Republic, Cllr Ralph added that it is widely understood that the “main source seems to be Northern Ireland”. 

As such, she believes that an all-island approach is needed to tackle the smuggling of illegal fireworks into the 26 counties. 

“I've written to the Garda Commissioner and to the First Minister in Northern Ireland, because I think we need an all island approach,” she said. 

“I've asked the First Minister to consider prohibiting the sale of fireworks in Northern Ireland. 

“There's a completely different regulatory system in Northern Ireland - they've registered firework retailers and as soon as we go up to the border counties, there's big signs selling them.

“So, we've got one island, but two completely different regulatory systems; if fireworks are being moved illegally from one jurisdiction into another, then it makes sense that the authorities on both sides work together to tackle that.”

A sign showing the border with Northern Ireland. Picture by: Thomas Lukassek / Alamy.

Cllr Ralph noted that Gardaí have seized a number of fireworks coming from the North and often do workshops with children in schools about the dangers of fireworks. 

However, she warned many children seem unaware of the dangers of fireworks. 

“When I was watching some of the kids, the other night with the fireworks, there was a lot of laughter and there was a great craic going on and they didn't see the danger [that] they were holding missiles in their hands,” she said. 

“So the kids aren't fully aware of the dangers of this; the adults are, the adults should not be going up there, picking up fireworks for the kids and bringing them home.” 

A person convicted of possession of fireworks can face a maximum fine of €10,000 or to a prison sentence of up to 5 years, or potentially both.

Sinn Féin has been contacted for comment.

Main image: A split of Michelle O'Neill and fireworks. Pictures by: Alamy.com.