Vol. 364 No. 7
asked the Minister for Labour if he has received a communication from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions requesting the introduction of legislation to oblige all companies to take out adequate employers' liability insurance; the proposals he has in this regard by way of protection for these workers adversely affected by the failure of their employers to take out this insurance cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
194.
asked the Minister for Labour if he will give details of those cases where workers who suffered occupational injuries did not receive compensation because their employers were not insured or were inadequately insured for employers' liability; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
195.
asked the Minister for Labour if he is aware that some workers, including workers who have been awarded compensation by the courts in respect of occupational injuries, are still owed thousands of pounds by their employers due to the failure of these companies to take out employers' liability insurance; if he will introduce legislation as soon as possible to ensure that all companies will be bound by law to take out adequate employers' liability insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 to 195, inclusive, together. I am aware of the concern of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions in this matter.
The Commission of Inquiry on Safety, Health and Welfare at Work made a substantial number of recommendations on occupational accident and disease prevention and also looked at a number of other matters including compensation arrangements and how they affect accident prevention. Because of the deficiencies of existing safety legislation, I have decided to concentrate my efforts and those of my Department on the development of proposals for legislative change reflecting the majority of the Commission's recommendations which are related to safety and health at work.
While my Department is aware of some approaches in relation to individual cases where workers who suffer occupational injury were not covered or were inadequately covered by employers' liability insurance, there is no overall data on the matter available to me. The commission pointed to the many complex issues relating to compulsory employers' liability insurance, including the almost total absence of information on the overall position relating to compensation and recommended that a separate major inquiry be carried out into the whole matter of compensation for injury at work. These issues would need to be examined comprehensively by all the interests concerned before any initiative as regards legislation in this area is decided upon.
