Ireland was required to transpose this directive into national law by 14 February 2006. However this has not been possible owing to the heavy legislative workload being processed by the Health and Safety Authority. A draft statutory instrument setting out regulations to transpose the directive, which concerns the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents — noise — is being finalised by the authority.
I understand from the authority that it will shortly issue the draft regulations for public consultation for a period of 30 days in accordance with the provisions of section 57 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. When this process is complete and when due account has been taken of any representations made, the regulations will be sent for final legal drafting in the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel.