Vol. 489 No. 4
130 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the nature and extent of the security operations mounted by the Garda Síochána to safeguard the public and workers during blasting operations at a County Sligo commercial quarry (details supplied). [8284/98]
Responsibility for the safety of persons who may be in the vicinity of commercial operations, the conduct of which may involve potential risk to others, is a matter for those who conduct such operations. The primary concern of the gardaí at such locations is the supervision of the expenditure of explosives and to prevent them from being stolen or misappropriated.
The Government inspector of explosives has a responsibility to ensure that the explosives which are stored at mines/quarries are kept in a safe and orderly manner. In that regard, comprehensive rules entitled "Safety Conditions for Eectrical Installations and Equipment for Buildings and Areas containing Explosives" have been drawn up and are applied in the case of licences issued by the Minister for such sites under the provisions of the Explosives Act, 1875, as amended. The provisions of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989 are also relevant in this connection.
