asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of the increase in fatal accidents due to faulty electric wiring; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Faulty Wiring Fatalities.
61.
I am not aware of an increase in the number of fatal accidents due to faulty electric wiring.
The Electro-Technical Council of Ireland, a body representative of technical and commercial electrical interests, has been working in close consultation with the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards on the preparation of standards and codes of practice for wiring rules. This work will take some time to complete and I understand that as an interim measure an arrangement will shortly be put into operation whereby electrical contractors will be required to complete a certificate, drawn up by the Electro-Technical Council, to the effect that any work done has been carried out in accordance with the National Wiring Regulations of 1968. I understand, when this arrangement is put into operation, the Electricity Supply Board will require such a certificate before connecting the electrical supply. The national wiring rules to which I have referred were prepared in 1968 by the National Wiring Rules Committee. This committee was representative of the ESB and a number of electrical contractors' and consultants' associations.
While official bodies such as the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards and the ESB and voluntary bodies such as the Electro-Technical Council are doing very valuable work in establishing standards of safety, the prevention of accidents is ultimately a matter for the consumer. It is important that all consumers should realise their responsibility for insisting on good workmanship in all electrical work undertaken for them and avoiding any dangerous improvisations.
Is the Minister serious when he says he is not aware of the situation existing in the country? This is a remarkable statement in view of the fact that in the last fortnight a coroner at an inquest stressed the very point I am making. As a result, I have raised this question. I put it to the Minister that it is absolutely necessary at the present to impose some check because people are going around the country wiring houses, buildings and institutions and so on with no regard for the safety of persons.
The ESB carried out a survey for the 23-year-period 1951-1970 which showed that during that period there were 99 deaths from electrocution on the consumers' side of the meter. Investigation into the cause of these accidents show that defects in wiring appeared to be the cause of 25 of them, approximately one-quarter, over a 20-year period.
May I inquire if the Minister for Industry and Commerce has ceased to be responsible to this House for motor insurance? The reason I ask this is that I put down a question to the Minister about motor insurance and it has been transferred to the Minister for Local Government. I want to find out how this change has taken place.
It does not arise at the moment. The Deputy can raise it when we reach the question. We cannot debate a matter that is not before the House.
Questions to the Minister for Industry and Commerce are before the House at the moment.
I should like to give notice that I wish to raise on the Adjournment the subject matter of Question No. 135 on the Order Paper for 8th June. It is reported at column 1269, volume 261 of the Official Report.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.
I wish to raise the subject matter of Question No. 56 on today's Order Paper on the Adjournment, and, if not tonight, tomorrow night.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy. The remaining Questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.