Debate contribution: Fireworks Legislation

Debate contribution by Mr Nick Mathison on 18 November 2025.

MLA

Mr Nick Mathison

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

18 November 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Fireworks Legislation

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5244775

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I rise to wind on the Alliance amendment. In the main, there is an awful lot that we agree on in the Chamber on the issue. We all need to acknowledge that, and it would be a shame if something positive did not come through because of minor differences on the right way to approach things. A lot of what people have been speaking about is the need for a better strategy for tackling the illegal use of fireworks, the need for better education, the need for engagement with PCSPs at local level and the need for the PSNI to take on proactive education programmes. There is a role for neighbourhood policing there. There is a lot of stuff that does not require legislation. We need to acknowledge that we probably agree on the vast majority of the issues being discussed.

Briefly. I do not get any extra time, so I cannot guarantee that I will take any others.

I thank the Member for that intervention. That is exactly my point: local solutions would be far more effective than a costly review of legislation. I thank the Members who tabled the motion. We may disagree on the right approach to deal with this, but we all agree that the irresponsible use and, particularly, the illegal use of fireworks causes huge distress and is a massive issue of animal welfare in particular. I was keen to speak to the motion because I am the owner of a very anxious dog. Dexter came to us as a foster dog a number of years ago. On the first Halloween after we got Dexter, he escaped in absolute distress. I had a night that I do not want to repeat, running around the streets of Newtownards in the darkness trying to find a dog. Thankfully, he is white — he is a little West Highland terrier — which made it easier, as he stood out very obviously against the dark night. He was utterly distraught, and it has become worse year-on-year. It is so upsetting to see the distress that is caused by fireworks. To be clear, as an animal lover and a dog owner, I completely understand the concerns and have been contacted by constituents about them. Illegal and irresponsible firework use can be problematic and distressing, but the key problems that have been highlighted are noise and illegal and antisocial use. The Minister has been clear that we do not have the legal power here to deal with the decibel levels of fireworks. Let us not pretend to the public that we can do something about that with a legislative review; let us focus on what we can do to tackle the irresponsible use of fireworks. That is where the review of sentencing provisions is relevant. It is welcome that the Minister set out clearly the intentions to address the issue in the upcoming sentencing review by including penalties for the illegal use and sale of fireworks. That feels like the appropriate targeted and proportionate response. As I said, as a dog owner who fully understands the impact of fireworks and the distress that they cause, I am clear that a review of legislation would not reduce those noise levels or stop those who are engaged in antisocial behaviour at 2.00 am, setting off fireworks that they have acquired illegally. That, clearly, is a matter of enforcement.

I will give way if I have time. Let me just finish some of my remarks. The effective intervention in this space is much more likely to be tougher penalties that could result in more effective prosecutions. I have referenced the local interventions that are likely to be relevant, such as neighbourhood police teams proactively engaging on the ground during October. All of us have a responsibility to engage with our local PSNI teams on those issues and to look at what PCSPs can do. Those creative local solutions have been referenced already, and I would like to see all of us in the Chamber getting around to constructively support them. I thank the Members who tabled the motion. I will give way to Mr Butler, and then I will conclude my remarks.

I thank the Member —

— for that intervention. I was going to say that some of the licensing provisions cover that, but the Minister can speak to that more effectively than I could.

I thank the Minister for that helpful intervention. I am conscious that I am running out of time. I commend the Alliance amendment to the House. I think that we agree on more than we disagree on in the debate. Whatever comes out of the debate, it would be good if a clear message went out to people across Northern Ireland that the Assembly is united on this as a serious issue that causes real distress, that it is not inconsequential and that we should make a proportionate and effective response. I will finish my remarks by saying, Mr Frew, that I recall indoor firework displays. They were the highlight of many's the Halloween in my granny's house in Monkstown, so thank you for reminding me of that.

860 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:00 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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