Vol. 429 No. 3
5 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Defence the provision, if any, which has been made to apply the provisions of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989, to serving members of the Permanent Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Over the past three years the Defence Forces have been actively implementing the terms of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989. Since September 1990 a Defence Advisory Committee, comprising both military and civilian personnel, has monitored and directed a programme to ensure the comprehensive implementation of its provisions.
Safety statements and safety representatives are now in place at unit level and 63 safety standards providing detailed technical safety guidelines on a wide range of general and specifically military activities have been completed and issued.
In particular the resources which have been made available for safety training highlight the importance and seriousness with which the Department has approached this matter.
The Department is funding an ongoing training programme for military personnel. To date three officers have obtained the safety diploma awarded by UCD, a further 12 will graduate in 1994 and one officer has obtained a Master's Degree in Ergonomic Design at the University of Limerick; 220 safety representatives have been trained; 26 instructors have been trained in the procedures for manual handling and have initiated training at local level; 50 military personnel have completed a safety officer foundation training course and the medical corps has trained 40 first-aid instructors and the engineer corps has trained 30 fire warden instructors who are now providing further training at unit level.
In addition seminars on noise, manual handling and occupational diseases will be conducted during 1993.
The Defence Advisory Committee will continue to provide ongoing guidance and advice on matters relating to safety, health and welfare in the Defence Forces.
I thank the Minister for his reply, but the action was taken by another Minister. Do the regulations made by the Minister for Enterprise and Employment on 18 February last effectively deprive serving members of the Permanent Defence Forces of any protection under this Act? Why was the proposal which PDFORRA negotiated with the health and safety authority and recommended to the Minister for Enterprise and Employment totally ignored and set aside? I am not suggesting that the Minister present set it aside but the left side of the Government, in the Department of Enterprise and Employment, ignored this Minister's responsibilities. Why did officers in the Department of Defence fáil to hold discussions on this issue with PDFORRA before agreeing a totally unsatisfactory text with the Department of Enterprise and Employment?
I am very pleased the Deputy raised this matter. I have very good relations with PDFORRA and in the light of the Deputy's question I will raise this issue with that organisation. I cannot give the Deputy a specific or correct answer from the information I have but if the Deputy raises the matter later I will probably have a more detailed answer for him.
I would be surprised if what the Deputy said is 100 per cent accurate; I am not suggesting that he is misrepresenting the situation but I would like to think that what has been done to date and what will be done in conjunction with RACO and PDFORRA will be complementary and, hopefully, to the advantage of both organisations. The Deputy will agree that while there should be no difficulty with the hygiene and health regulations when the Defence Forces are operating at home when members are serving abroad, or in combat, we have to take a different view.
I accept what the Minister is saying and thank him for the goodwill shown in his reply. Will the Minister request that these totally unsatisfactory regulations which are now in force be withdrawn and substituted by the text agreed between PDFORRA and the Health and Safety Authority? Having regard to the Minister's interest in the Department and the Defence Forces it would be possible to accede to my request.
With the greatest respect, I do not agree with the Deputy that the health, safety and welfare regulations are not properly operating in the Department of Defence. I understand the Deputy believes there was not proper consultation with PDFORRA, or that as a result of consultations held the subsequent application of the regulations was unsatisfactory. If that is the case I will certainly address the matter. However, I cannot agree with the Deputy that the regulations are not operating properly.
