§ Mr. Robert McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information he has received as to the controls on sale or distribution of ingredients for the manufacture of terrorist bombs, and their equivalent, in the Irish Republic; and what assessment each jurisdiction has made as to their adequacy. [16746]
553W
§ Sir John WheelerThe principal and most common ingredient used by terrorists in Northern Ireland to make bombs has been ammonium nitrate-based agricultural fertiliser. The Explosives Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1972 prohibit fertilisers containing more than 79 per cent. ammonium nitrate by weight except under licence issued by the Secretary of State. Broadly equivalent legislation applies in the Irish Republic.
As with all counter-terrorist legislation in Northern Ireland, the 1972 regulations are kept under review to ensure that they are appropriate to the prevailing situation and can be effectively enforced.