Dublin councillors propose restricting fireworks to protect wildlife

Olivia Kelleher

Dublin City Council has proposed restricting fireworks at council or council-backed events in order to protect wildlife.

The motion was put forward by Fianna Fáil councillor Deirdre Heney and received the backing of nine other councillors on the arts and culture committee.

Cllr Heney told Newstalk Breakfast that she is not trying to be a "killjoy" but is instead concerned about the negative effects of fireworks "on people, on animals and on our general environment."

"It is not being overly cautious when you see the negative effects and what happens to our environment. The health effects – there is huge air pollution when fireworks displays happen.

"I’m not trying to be a killjoy, not at all – I want this to evolve in positive way. I absolutely want community engagement and I want to engage with my colleagues on our policy committee so that we can bring the policy forward."

However, Ballyfermot-based People Before Profit councillor Hazel De Nortúin said fireworks displays have been  effective in reducing anti-social behaviour in certain communities.

"I agree with the fact that there is an environmental impact, whether it is to the environment or to animals or people.

"I just don’t like when we bring in motions that would remove a service to an area without consultation with that area.

"In particular, I would be reflecting on Cherry Orchard who, for the last number of years now, for Halloween, have put a large fireworks display on to combat any anti-social behaviour and to bring people together.

"It has been a very positive spectacle for that evening and it has kind of softened the approach we used to have when we would have public order units standing on one side of the road and the community on the other going about their day.

"We haven’t had the need for any of that escalation over the last few years because the routine that has been there and the culmination in the fireworks show has had a very positive effect.”

She said eliminating official fireworks displays would not curb the use of fireworks in communities.

“I live in Neilstown which is just a stone’s throw from Cherry Orchard and there is a difference in comparison.
Because there’s no public display of fireworks up here, it’s on every corner, it’s literally in every garden, it is on every green.

"I do think it would really shock and frighten the community development workers in Dublin City Council to hear this is going to be removed and the other resources we need to put in to prevent anything from happening.”