Vol. 538 No. 4
34 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Public Enterprise her views on the establishment of a statutory authority for the regulation of the electrical contracting industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18051/01]
The Interdepartmental/Agency Review Group on Public Safety, sponsored by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, recommended, inter alia, the establishment of an office of public safety and that each Department needs to place public safety high among the concerns to be addressed in decision making and the development of public policy.
In the course of its work, the review group noted the current system of self-regulation of the electrical contracting industry in Ireland. While the Health and Safety Authority has a general responsibility in the case of non-domestic installations in the context of the safety and health of workers, it does not have such a role in respect of domestic installations.
I have always placed the highest priority on matters of public safety. It is for this reason that I have, through my Department, formally requested the Commission for Electricity Regulation to advise me on the potential of a role for the commission in the regulation of the electrical contracting industry and how it could best approach the performance and oversight of such an additional function in the most cost effective and efficient manner.
The commission has confirmed to my Department that it is agreeable in principle to assuming this additional function. It has initiated work on devising an appropriate scheme for the regulation of the industry and identifying the financial and human resource requirements, as a basis for its recommendation to me. Additional staff have been recruited to facilitate the carrying out of this task and the commission has assured my Department that work on devising an appropriate scheme will be given priority.
Legislative provisions for the assignment of this additional function to the Commission for Electricity Regulation could be included in the forthcoming electricity Bill, which subject to drafting is expected to be introduced in the autumn of next year.
