asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism whether his Department have issued any regulations or orders in draft or otherwise to ensure the fire safety of the types of materials used in furnishings in premises which are frequented by the public; and, if so, if he will give details.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Fire Safety.
9.
Under the Industrial Research and Standards Act, 1961, the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards have, with my consent, declared a standard specification for the requirements for smoulder and flame resistant furniture upholstery. Under the same Act I made an order in September 1980 prohibiting the manufacture, assembly or sale of certain types of upholstered furniture designed or suitable for domestic use unless the upholstery complies with the smoulder and flame resistant criteria in the standard specification to which I referred or is clearly labelled with prescribed warning labels.
I have no power under existing legislation to make regulations or orders about fire safety standards for furnishings designed for use in public buildings.
Is the Minister saying he has not the power under existing legislation to ensure the fire safety of materials used in furnishings in public places?
That is the position.
Does the Minister intend taking any steps to rectify that situation?
The IIRS are carrying out surveys on the matter at the moment. It is intended that in respect of upholstery and so on certain standards will be called for and we will try to have these standards enforced.
I do not quite follow the Minister's reply. He said the IIRS are endeavouring to improve standards and that they will try to have them applied. I am asking him what steps he or his senior Minister are taking to amend the legislation so that they will have the necessary power to make regulations similar to those made last September dealing with furniture for domestic use.
The position is that under the 1980 Act it is unlawful to manufacture, assemble or sell upholstered furniture, with certain specified exemptions, unless the upholstery complies with the ignitability standards of Irish Specification No. 244 of 1980 or is clearly labelled with prescribed warning labels if it does not satisfy the tests.
Is the Minister aware that the regulations he has quoted apply only to furniture used for domestic purposes? My question to the Minister was whether he intended to take any steps to amend the Act under which the regulations are made in order to give him the power to make similar or better regulations in relation to furniture used in public places.
The regulation deals with the sale of upholstered material.
The regulation is in respect of materials to be used for domestic purposes. Will the Minister not agree there is a necessity to change the law to allow him to impose standards in respect of the sale of contract furniture, that is, furniture which is to be used in public places, such as the sort of place in which the Minister is now standing?
If there is a deficiency there, I will certainly ask the Minister to investigate the matter.
Is it not sticking out a mile that there is a deficiency when the Minister says that he has not the power?