Why are fireworks banned in Ireland?

All around the world, fireworks illuminate the night at worldwide events celebrated by people all over the world and are a sign of celebration and parties. These dazzling displays are, however, largely prohibited in Ireland, where they are strictly enforced and violations are subject to severe penalties.  The prohibition of fireworks might seem queer to a lot of individuals, especially those who have recently arrived or are visiting. Why would a country prohibit something so widely accepted in another?

Public safety issues, social order, historical context, and cultural beliefs all come into play with the solution.  This blog post discusses the history, legal system, public opinion, and consequences of illegal use to describe Ireland’s strict fireworks laws.

The law regarding fireworks:

An act was made back in 1875 which was made by the Irish Government regarding the laws related to fireworks. The law clearly stated three things.

• Only those people will be allowed to use fireworks having a license or are certified to use them.
• Only people with proper access are allowed to use them or those having permission to access them having experience of using fireworks.
• Fireworks can only be used on special events such as Independence Day or New Years Eve and only can be used by people licensed to use them.

The question now arises, what if you use them and break these laws? If you break any laws, heavy fines or imprisonment can be done.

Why are fireworks banned in Ireland?

Fireworks are banned in Ireland due to a number of reasons such as:

• Safe environment for all

Fireworks can be injurious to our health if not dealt with care and these fireworks affect people’s safety as well posing risks for all! To ensure a safe and care-free environment for the public, fireworks are banned in Ireland.

• Animals/birds safety

Another reason why fireworks are banned for the country is for the safety and protection of the animals. Birds fly in the air and lighting up fireworks in the middle of the night can be alarming and dangerous for them.

Many animal organisations in Ireland reported many injured animals and pets during New Years eve or Independence Days as well. The main reason may be due to the sound of fireworks, animals can easily get scared and while trying to escape the sounds, they may be harmed.

• Pollution in the country

Another reason to ban fireworks is mainly because they cause air and noise pollution in the country. For people suffering from mental health disorders or those sensitive to noise, fireworks can lead to stress and anxiety and aggravate their condition or loud noises of fireworks at midnight can severely affect elderly individuals too. Furt

hermore, fireworks contain hazardous chemicals and metals, when released into the air is dangerous for the people. These fireworks contain metals such as strontium which can be dangerous for bone health, copper which can be hazardous for our respiratory tract and some other metals which are quite risky to your health and affect the air quality!

• Fire hazards

Fireworks, if released without proper care and precautions can cause fires which can easily spread all over the country. Thus, to avoid this Ireland has banned fireworks all over the country.

• Physical damage

Fireworks can also cause physical damage to eyes, bones and ears. Fireworks, at high temperature can cause burn and injuries which can be very painful to the body. Moreover, they can also cause damage to your ears such as permanent hearing loss as the noise caused by fireworks can be dangerous to your ears!

• Misuse by individuals

Fireworks can be misused by many individuals. Many people under the legal age of 18 use fireworks without any certifications or license without any proper practice to use them safely. These people mostly use fireworks incorrectly without any safety precautions which may cause fires, burns and noises.

 

What does the government say?

The community people generally support this ban for safety as they believe this is to ensure their safety and protection and the people residing there play their part as responsible citizens, which they should do!

Thus, fireworks may be tempting and the display might be amazing to watch, but sometimes can be dangerous as well so it is recommended to use them only if you carry a license, are over eighteen or practiced to do so!