Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 December 2004
57 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will introduce legislation to allow the Health and Safety Authority to investigate non-workplace accidents such as the recent tragedy near Askeaton, County Limerick (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33742/04]
View answerThe Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 1989 regulates occupational safety and health law and the Health and Safety Authority is the national statutory body with responsibility for enforcement of occupational safety and health law.
The 1989 Act will be replaced by the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004 which has just completed Committee Stage in the Dáil. The new Bill will also deal only with workplace safety and I will not be formulating proposals to introduce legislation to allow the Health and Safety Authority to investigate non-workplace accidents.
The matter of public safety was considered in a report by a review group on public safety in Ireland, which was published in 2000. The review group's recommendation that an office of public safety regulation should be considered was inconclusive and a clear-cut case was not made for the establishment of such an agency.
