Vol. 527 No. 3
104 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action she will take in response to a recent report on the operation of the Health and Safety Authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28563/00]
The report to which the Deputy is referring is a consultant's report of an internal strategic review of the efficiency and effectiveness of the Health and Safety Authority. The review was commissioned by the board of the authority. It was commissioned in the context of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989, and indeed the authority itself, being ten years old, it is considered appropriate to review and re-evaluate its structure and operations.
The board of the authority has informed me that it has endorsed the recommendations contained in the report. I have since sought further information from the board on the detail of how it envisages the recommendations being implemented, and that information is still awaited. I will give urgent and careful consideration to the board's proposals in this regard as soon as they are received.
I would emphasise that any changes which may be brought about as a result of this review will be with the intention of ensuring that the authority continues on a sound structural base from which it can meet the demands placed on it by rapidly changing social and economic conditions.
