asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will make regulations concerning child-resistant containers for such products as household and garden chemicals.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Child-resistant Containers.
6.
As I explained in answer to a similar question by the Deputy last year, the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards are keeping in touch with experiments in this field that are being carried out in certain countries which are better equipped to conduct the necessary research than we are. Difficulties are being encountered in finding kinds of container which are resistant to children without also presenting difficulties to invalids and old people but, as I said in reply to the earlier question, if the tests being carried out elsewhere eventually produce worthwhile results I shall consider embodying these in compulsory standards.
It is over a year since I raised this matter. Surely other countries have found it possible to introduce regulations in this field and why does not the Minister proceed to do so here?
I understand that countries as wealthy and as skilful in these matters as the United States of America and the United Kingdom have not so far produced a solution. The Institute for Industrial Research and Standards are, in fact, watching their progress but the matter has not been brought to a conclusion.