asked the Minister for Labour the number of inspectors attached to his Department to visit factories and other work premises to ensure that the statutory regulations are carried out.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Factory Inspection.
65.
The number of inspectors serving in my Department is as follows: 1 Chief Inspector of Factories; 4 Senior Inspectors of Factories; 14 Inspectors of Factories; 2 Inspectors of Mines and Quarries; 8 General Inspectors.
66.
asked the Minister for Labour how many inspections of factories were conducted in the Dublin area during the past nine months.
The report of the factory inspectorate for the year ended 30th September, 1966, is in course of preparation and will be laid before Dáil Éireann in due course.
Preliminary figures which I have had compiled show that the number of inspections of factories in the Dublin area carried out in the nine months ended 30th September, 1966, was 2,679.
Would the Minister not agree that it would be a far more satisfactory arrangement if a copy of the inspectorate's report was supplied to both management and to the union dealing with the workers in the particular factory?
The report is published. Those figures have been roughly compiled.
If the inspectorate finds some defects and makes a report to the Department, would it not be more satisfactory if such a report were made available to the trade union representing the people employed in the factory?
There is a law, and if the law is not being obeyed, then it is up to the inspector to see that the management obey the law and bring prosecutions, where necessary.
Mr. O'Leary
Is any register of the number of companies published?
Yes; this is in the report.
Is the Minister not aware that there are cases where factory inspectors visit a factory and ignore completely the workers' representatives, the safety delegate, in that factory? They consult solely with the management and are shown around by the management and need not necessarily, and on many occasions do not, consult or inform the workers' representative of their findings. Would the Minister not consider it more satisfactory if a report of the findings were made available to the workers' representative?
I have said to the House before that ensuring that the law is obeyed is a matter for the inspector dealing with the management; the setting up of a safety committee is a matter for the workers. I have asked publicly several times that the workers should take this initiative.
Surely if the Department's inspectors ignore the workers' representative, it is not much encouragement for workers to set up further committees?
Question No. 67.
I want to ask a supplementary question.
There have been a number of supplementary questions already.
It is my question and I want to ask a supplementary on it.
Question No. 67.
Mr. O'Leary
Private enterprise.