asked the Minister for Labour when he proposes to introduce legislation to give effect to the main proposals of the Barrington Commission on occupational safety and health; the extra resources which will be made available in 1987 and 1988 to implement the legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Commission Recommendations.
10.
I intend to introduce a Bill in the Oireachtas this year to give effect to the main recommendations of the Barrington Commission of Inquiry on Safety, Health and Welfare at Work. I have instructed my Department to give priority attention to completing the legislative proposals.
In the meantime, the Interim Board for Occupational Safety and Health are continuing with their task of advising on the legislative proposals and on other transitional arrangements which will be necessary to achieve the changeover from the current safety and health system to that proposed by the Barrington Commission.
No provision was made by the outgoing Government for extra resources in 1987 for implementing this legislation. The subject of extra resources in 1988 will be considered in the context of general budgetary arrangements for that year.
I believe it is necessary to undertake a thorough examination of the level of resources which will be required to sustain the training, education and information activity which is so critical to the reform process. The interim board will be looking into this important area and I look forward to receiving their report.
Can the Minister indicate whether the final text of the Bill has been received from the parliamentary draftsman and whether it has been cleared by the Attorney General?
Unfortunately, not as yet. The second draft is being examined by the interim board but my understanding is that there are still a number of omissions, as was the case in the first draft. The position is still not satisfactory.
The Minister as a former Whip will be aware of the logistics involved. Is it realistic to anticipate that this legislation could be tabled next autumn?
I am still so advised, but I am concerned because of the difficulty in the parliamentary draftsman's office. The people who are working on this are very anxious to make progress and wish to aim for the target of next autumn.
Would the Minister agree, drawing on his experience as a former Government Whip, that this will be an essentially Committee Stage Bill on which one would expect widespread agreement on the principle and a detailed Committee Stage debate? In those circumstances would he agree to bring the legislation forward as quickly as possible, even if not in its final polished state, and let it go to a special committee of this House, as has happened with comparable legislation in other areas?
Since the major proposals made by the Barrington Commission change the whole concept of safety, welfare and health, I would have no objection. It is mainly a technical Bill and its ramifications are fairly broad. When I see the legislation in its final draft I will be glad to communicate with interested Deputies.
Does the Minister intend before introducing the Bill, or at the time of its introduction, dealing with the issue raised by Deputy Quinn in relation to funding? It will be a nonsense of a Bill if it is not funded. Unless the Government have made certain decisions to fund it, I suggest that its introduction is a sham. Will the Minister give an undertaking to the House that before or at the time of introducing this Bill he will give a specific indication to the House as to the extent to which the Government intend to fund the provisions of the Bill and the new obligations on his Department contained in it?
I agree with the Deputy, but already a huge amount of work has been done by a very successful interim board. They are looking at the whole question of funding. That review will also take place within the Department. A substantial number of people in the technical and administrative sections of the Department are already working on safety and health regulations. Most of these will be transferred to the national board. That matter is being examined in the Department. The Barrington report is an excellent one and the interim board are working extremely hard. It is worth proceeding with because although money is not available this year it is not really necessary. That problem will be faced next year.
The Minister has referred to some of the legal difficulties encountered by the parliamentary draftsman, particularly the difficulty in drafting the sections relating to performance specification standards and cannot be absolutely precise. Can the Minister indicate whether the interim board have recommended any significant changes in the draft of the legislation and, if so, if he is proposing to accept those changes? Would that threaten the announced timetable?
It has not reached that stage yet. I have not received a report from the interim board on the second draft but I believe I will get it shortly.