Willie Penrose
Question:43 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the decision, if any, she has made on the future direction of railway safety regulation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26005/99]
Written Answers - Rail Services.
Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke): The independent review of railway safety in Ireland identified a number of options for the future regulation of railway safety in Ireland. My Department has been considering these options and consulted the Health and Safety Authority, CIE and the trade unions. While no definitive decision has yet been made on the future direction of railway safety regulation, I would like to briefly outline my preliminary views on the form and content of the proposed regulatory framework. I favour the establishment of a railway safety inspectorate, independent of my Department and with powers similar in nature to the Health and Safety Authority. The inspectorate would have the necessary powers of inspection, investigation and enforcement to allow it to carry out its functions.
I also consider that it would be appropriate to adopt a safety case approach under which Iarnród Éireann, or any other railway or light railway undertaking, would be required to prepare a safety statement setting out its safety policies and systems and identifying hazards on its rail network together with the appropriate actions to deal with them. This safety statement, or safety case, would then form the basis for managing safety on the railway in a formal yet flexible manner. This approach has already been adopted by other countries in respect of their railways and is used for occupational safety under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989. It provides a flexible and responsive means of managing railway safety.
These are initial proposals only. Further detailed consideration of a range of issues will be required before I bring firm legislative proposals before the House. I would welcome the views of all interested parties, including Members of this House, on this matter.