asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what steps are being taken to ensure that the minimum safety standards suggested or established by the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards in relation to the manufacture and sale of toys are being observed.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Safety Standards for Toys.
91.
As I mentioned in Dáil Éireann in reply to a question on 2nd December last, inspectors of my Department carry out periodic checks in shops to ensure that children's toys offered for sale are in compliance with the compulsory standard dealing with toxicity and cellulosic content of such toys.
I mentioned, at that time, that a pre-Christmas check would be carried out bearing in mind the importance of such a check at that particular time of year and, as a result, it appears that the standard is generally being complied with. There were a very few cases, however, in which compliance with the standard was arguable and, in order to close up any loopholes that may exist, I am having the standard amended as a matter of urgency.
Could samples of toys not be submitted to the Minister's Department? That would eliminate the sampling of toys in the shops, a tedious and time-consuming exercise. Would the Minister not think that this suggestion might be more desirable than building up a load of toys in his Department?
What the Deputy suggests would certainly build up a load of toys in my Department. If a sample of every toy had to be submitted to the Department that would certainly lead to a build-up.
But a great deal of time is wasted by the inspectors having to visit the different shops. Theirs is a very time-consuming task.
It is time-consuming but it is, I think, a preferable system.