asked the Minister for Labour why no regulations have yet been made under the Dangerous Substances Act, 1976.
Written Answers. - Dangerous Substances Regulations.
252.
Before any regulations can be made under the Dangerous Substances Act, 1972, it will be necessary to have the Act brought into operation by order. Because of certain difficulties affecting security it has not been possible yet to make the necessary order.
Work on drawing up regulations to be made under the Act has been proceeding and some of these regulations are now at an advanced stage of drafting. In the case of certain types of regulations, the Act requires me to give notice of my intention to make them and give persons desiring to make representations an opportunity to do so. Notices of my intention to make a number of regulations were published in September and October 1978, and copies of the proposed regulations were made available on request to interested parties.
Some representations were received and these have been under discussion between the parties and officers of the Department of Labour.
Efforts to solve the difficulties in the way of bringing the Act into operation are continuing. I am at present examining a possible solution which involves an amendment of the Act. If an amendment is found to be necessary, I shall bring proposals before the Dáil at a very early date.
253.
asked the Minister for Labour the reason for the delay in setting up the task force study on the transportation of dangerous chemicals.
I assume the Deputy is referring to a recent article in a weekly newspaper which stated that, following a seminar in 1977 on the transport of chemicals, organised by the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards, I had undertaken to establish a task force to study the situation.
This is not, in fact, correct. Meetings have, however, taken place between officials of my Department and representatives of the Irish chemical industry and other interests regarding the safe movement of dangerous chemicals.
My Department are at present investigating the range of dangerous and potentially dangerous chemicals and the necessity for making the appropriate safety regulations covering their storage and transport, including loading and unloading.