Where the Minister of Home AffairsF3 for Northern Ireland (in this Act referred to as “the Minister”) is satisfied that owing to the existence of any special circumstances special precautions require to be taken under section twenty-three of the Explosives Act, 1875 [1875 c.17] , as it applies in Northern Ireland (in this Act referred to as “the principal Act”), for the prevention of accidents by fire or explosion in any such factory, magazine, store, or registered premises as is referred to in that section, or for preventing unauthorised persons having access thereto, the Minister may by order prescribe the special precautions to be taken, and any contravention of or failure to comply with the terms of such order shall be deemed to be a breach of that section.

Without prejudice to any penalty imposed by the principal Act, it shall be lawful for the Minister, where he is satisfied that the provisions of any such order are not complied with, to cause steps to be taken to secure compliance therewith, and to recover from the occupier the expense of taking any such steps.