asked the Minister for Labour the initiatives, if any, he is planning in the field of occupational health care; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Occupational Health Care.
6.
As I have indicated previously, my priority in this area is to bring forward legislation to give effect to the main recommendations of the Barrington Commission of Inquiry on Safety, Health and Welfare at Work. This will provide for new comprehensive legislative and structural systems relating to the safety and health of workers.
The Barrington Commission themselves recognised that their proposals would need to be supplemented by an exercise of training, information and education. An important aspect of this process is the development of a multi-disciplinary approach to accident and injury prevention at the workplace. The Department of Labour are co-operating with An Bord Altranais, the Faculty of Occupational Medicine, the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and the Occupational Hygiene Society in the running of a common core multi-disciplinary course in occupational safety and health. This type of initiative accords with current international thinking such as expressed within the European Community and the International Labour Organisation.
This year the Department are implementing a targeted programme for reducing accidents and ill health at work in four high risk areas, namely, construction, glass manufacture, meat and fish products and milk processing.
In preparation for the designated European Year Against Cancer in 1989, I have asked my Department to organise a programme to coincide with the European Community's initiative. It is intended that there will be co-ordination of activities and liaison with other national bodies leading to the development of a programme aimed at ensuring protection for the workforce from cancer creating substances at work. The programme will run in co-operation with the National Industrial Safety Organisation and the Irish Cancer Society. Preparatory activities have commenced and will be completed within the current year.
Would the Minister not agree that, notwithstanding his long reply, the reality is that there is nothing up and coming fairly quickly on this very important issue which has been left lying for a very long time, and accidents are happening week in and week out? Can he not arrange to introduce on an interim basis emergency measures dealing with such matters as protective clothing, gloves, goggles and so on, without waiting a long period before anything is done to provide these safety measures?
It is not true to say nothing is being done because already there is some legislation in place. I recall around 1980 putting revised industrial legislation through this House. The Barrington report set out in great detail a range of areas which needed attention, covering a much wider remit than the safety in industry legislation already covers. In my opinion — and I am sure this is the Minister's opinion too — the way to proceed is with the specific detailed legislation which has been promised and is in course of preparation and which should be before the House very shortly.
At what stage of preparation is this legislation? When can we expect to see it?
In the near future, very shortly, immediately, it is under consideration.
This is very comprehensive legislation which is being drafted and should be before the Dáil very shortly.
It was drafted when the Minister took office.
Has it been approved by the Government? Has it gone to the Government yet?
The legislation has been to the Government. It is being drafted and should be before the House as soon as possible. The legislation covers a wider area than simply the safety of people in the workplace. If covers the agricultural industry and a range of other activities. As I said, this is comprehensive legislation which is taking some time to prepare.
Approximately how long more will it take?
I cannot give a precise date or say how long it will take to bring that detailed legislation before the House. There is an urgency about this legislation and it should be before the House at the earliest possible opportunity.
Will it be this year?
I could not give a firm date at this time. It is at an advanced stage of preparation and should be before the House shortly. The Barrington Commission report was finalised and was lying in the Department for the four years the previous Government were in office.
That is not true.
They did not see any great urgency——
Would the Minister not agree that the draft heads of the Bill were cleared by the previous Government——
This is Question Time.
Would the Minister not agree from the background information he has in his file — maybe he would care to read it all to the House — that that legislation was ready to run when his colleague took office 18 months ago?
This is leading to argument. I am calling Question No. 7.
The Deputy did not think there was any urgency to this report during the four years he was in office.
The Minister is either misinformed or is misleading the House.
I established the Barrington Commission and saw the report when it was published, and it was lying around during the four years Deputy Quinn was Minister for Labour.
That is not so.
I am calling Question No. 7.
The record and the facts are there.