Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 23 Oct 2003

Vol. 573 No. 2

Written Answers. - Health and Safety Regulations.

Mary Upton

Question:

28 Dr. Upton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when it is expected that the draft regulations from the Health and Safety Authority to amend the Safety Health and Welfare at Work (Carcinogens) Regulations, to provide improved protection for employees against environmental tobacco smoke, will be published; the steps being taken to ensure consistency between these regulations and the regulations from the Department of Health and Children; the role the Health and Safety Authority will play in monitoring and enforcing regulations regarding workplace smoking; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24500/03]

John Gormley

Question:

46 Mr. Gormley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the role her Department will have in the enforcement of the proposed new regulations banning smoking within workplaces; the categories and number of staff that will be responsible for enforcing this workplace regulation; and the procedures which will be in place to deal with breaches of the regulation. [24602/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Fahey):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 46 together.

I am currently awaiting a report from the Health and Safety Authority following its public consultation process arising from the results of a scientific study by an independent scientific working group commissioned by the authority and the Office of Tobacco Control which concluded that environmental tobacco smoke, ETS, is a carcinogen, that is, it causes lung cancer and probably other cancers and heart disease and has many other adverse effects. Assuming that report recommends that a statutory instrument be promulgated which will add ETS to the list of carcinogens to be banned from the workplace, I will be seeking Government approval for the relevant statutory instrument under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989. It is also my intention to give the required three months' notice to the European Union of the Government's intention to bring the statutory instrument into operation.

Officers from the Department of Health and Children, my Department, the Office of Tobacco Control and the Health and Safety Authority and others are in close contact concerning the implementation and enforcement of the proposed regulations. It is envisaged that this group will publish guidelines on procedures for implementation and enforcement in due course.