Vol. 501 No. 3
109 Mr. Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way in which large holes could be dug in a special area of conservation under the health and safety regulations without any action being taken; and if she will investigate this matter. [5809/99]
The occupational health and safety legislation in Ireland sets out the responsibilities which employers and employees have in relation to providing and maintaining a safe working environment. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989, is the principal legislation dealing with occupational health and safety and this is supplemented by a series of regulations, in particular the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations, 1993 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 1995.
The purpose of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 1995 is to protect workers at work from accidents, fatalities and ill health. The legislation does not specifically relate to special areas of conservation.
The Health and Safety Authority is the statutory body responsible for the day to day promotion of occupational health and safety and the enforcement of the above legislation. If the Deputy is concerned that certain aspects of the health and safety legislation in the context of the specific issue raised in his question are being breached, then he should bring the matter to the attention of the Health and Safety Authority at 10 Hogan Place, Dublin 2, Tel. 6147000.
