asked the Minister for Labour the names of the Interim Board for Occupational Safety and Health; and when this board are likely to become a statutory board.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Occupational Safety and Health Board.
15.
The following is the interim board's membership:
Chairwoman: Dr. Caroline Hussey.
Employer Representatives: Mr. Dermot Brady; Mr. Aidan Travers; Mr. Allen Wilson.
Alternate: Mrs. Clare Carroll.
Worker Representatives: Mr. Peter Keating; Ms. Patricia O'Donovan; Mr. Donal O'Sullivan.
Alternate: Ms. Margaret Nolan.
Other Members: Mr. Tom Walsh, Department of Labour; Dr. Jane Buttimer, Department of Health; Mr. P.J. Donnelly, County Manager, Kilkenny: Mr. Michael McLoughlin, Department of Agriculture.
The interim board are a non-statutory advisory body who have, as their terms of reference, advising the Minister on various aspects of safety and health at work including the development of a programme to implement the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry on Safety, Health and Welfare at Work and on the legislative proposals to give effect to the commission's recommendations.
One of the recommendations of the commission was that the legislation should make provision for the establishment as a permanent body of a National Authority for Occupational Safety and Health.
The interim board were established on a temporary basis and will not become a statutory board.
When does the Minister think that legislation will come before this House to set up a statutory board? Is the Minister saying that there is no need for a statutory board and that this interim group of people will just carry out the job and then dissolve themselves?
The legislation will provide for a national authority and when that has been legislated for this interim board will not be required in a statutory capacity.
Will the conclusions of this interim board form the basis of the legislation? Already there are a number of reports that could be used to form legislation and the legislation is urgently required. Why is there a requirement for an interim board? There have been numerous committees and inter-departmental committees on this subject over the last ten years. What is the reason for an interim board?
The valued work of this interim board will be taken into account in the preparation of the legislation for the setting up of the national authority. I would expect that one of the determining factors with regard to the production of the legislation will be how quickly the intermediate board formulate their own policy with regard to the legislation and how speedily they conclude their consultations with the other interests.
Do the safety regulations covered by this interim board also include offshore safety regulations?
I do not have that information but I will get it.