Vol. 438 No. 4
11 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if he has received reports on the industrial explosions at Cork, Waterford and Dublin throughout the summer; if so, if he has studied them; and if he will make a statement on these reports.
In the case of three of the incidents in question, which relate to industrial explosions in counties Cork, Waterford and Dublin, files have been prepared by the Health and Safety Authority and submitted to the Chief State Solicitor's Office with a view to prosecutions. The Deputy will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on these cases in the circumstances.
A further incident involving fire and explosion of a propane gas storage tank during the refueling of a forklift truck at a canning factory in Waterford is still under investigation by the Health and Safety Authority.
I accept that these matters have been investigated and that, if necessary, litigation will ensue, but will the Minister agree that her Department and the Health and Safety Authority should be giving more advice to people in industrial units to take greater care?
I am glad of the opportunity to widen the scope of the question. The Health and Safety Authority takes its duties very seriously. When I visited Cork last August I pointed out strongly to the relevant firms that they needed to be more open in terms of their procedures with the wider community. I am very glad that in the budget the Health and Safety Authority received what amounts to a not inconsiderable boost to its income, allowing for the employment of more inspectors and staff.
With regard to the incident in County Cork, which is also the subject matter of Question No. 19, will the Minister accept it is of fundamental importance that not only the safety of the environment is protected but that the jobs of the workforce in the plant are protected, bearing in mind that all the employees are the bread winners in their families, have young children and big mortgages? The Minister's Department has an obligation to give whatever advice and assistance it can to ensure that the jobs of these workers are protected.
One needs to strike a proper balance when dealing with such issues within an industrial environment. Of course, the Department of Enterprise and Employment wishes to pursue all avenues open to it in an effort to maintain existing employment and to add to it whenever possible. When I visited Cork I also met the union representatives of the firms in question who made points similar to those made by the Deputy. I am very much aware of the need to strike a balance in this area, keeping the safety remit strongly in mind at all times.
I am concerned with some aspects of the Minister's reply. For example, she did not indicate whether the Department has learned anything from these incidents or whether it intends to utilise the information which has been accumulated from the investigations. She said that the number of inspectors in the Health and Safety Authority would be increased. Has the Department any view on its role in this matter? I know there is a concern about job protection in the Department. Will there be an element of that in any future legislation or regulations which the Department might introduce in this area?
Is the Deputy referring to the health and safety aspect?
Yes.
The Health and Safety Authority is an independent body with a specific remit which is to have regard for the health and safety of people at work. In reply to the wider question posed by Deputy Quill, in the Department of Enterprise and Employment, as in any Department, a sense of balance must be constantly maintained in regard to issues such as this. The Health and Safety Authority, like any other body, learns from experiences. Therefore, I am sure notice will be taken of issues which may arise from these incidents.
